257

AJM/NF (right aligned)
422658 : Pilot Officer George Dudley HEATHCOTE.
WIFE : Mrs. E.M. Heathcote of Waikari, Dunedin.

George Heathcote was born at Gisborne on the 6th September, 1908. He received his secondary education at King Edward Technical College, Dunedin, where he gained the School Certificate, later taking an Accountancy course with the International Correspondence School. He played football and tennis. After leaving school he was employed in a number of clerical positions and at the time of applying for enlistment in aircrew - on the 16th June, 1941 - was in the employ of the Electricity Department of the Dunedin City Corporation.

Pilot Officer Heathcote was enlisted at the Initial Training Wing, Rotorua, on the 18th April, 1942, and embarked for Canada under the Empire Air Training Scheme, on the 22nd June.

Shortly after arrival in Canada, P/O Heathcote was posted on the 19th July, to No 9 Air Observers School, St. Johns, Quebec, where - on the 6th November, 1942 - he was awarded the air navigator's badge and promoted to the rank of Sergeant. He was further promoted to Flight Sergeant on the 1st June 1943, and commissioned in the rank of Pilot Officer on the 23rd January, 1944. Meanwhile on the 17th November, 1942 he proceeded to No. 1 "Y" Depot, Halifax, Nova Scotia for embarkation the the United Kingdom.

P/O Heathcote arrived at No. 3 Personnel Reception Centre, Bournemouth early in December 1942 and on the 22nd January 1943 was posted to No. 26 Elementary Flying Training School, Theale, Berkshire for a short course and thence on the 23rd March to No. 1 Advanced Flying Unit, Wigtown, Scotland where he trained as navigator of Anson aircraft. On the 4th May he was posted to No. 11 Operational Training Unit at Westcott, Buckinghamshire, and the nearby satellite airfield where he crewed up and completed his training as navigator of Wellington bomber aircraft. Late in July he proceeded to No. 1657 Conversion Unit, Stradishall, Suffolk, for conversion to Stirling aircraft after which he was posted on the 28th August, to