259

AJM/NF (right aligned)
415532 : Flight Sergeant Ian Richard HEAYS.
PARENTS : Mr. & Mrs. R.J. Heays of Tutira, Hawkes Bay.

Ian Heays was born at Napier on the 7th July, 1920. He received his secondary education at Napier Boys' High School, and continued at the Smedley Farm Training School at Tikokino, Hawkes Bay. He played football, tennis and badminton. After leaving school he was employed in farmin with his father at Tutira, Hawkes Bay and was still employed there at the time of applying for enlistment in aircrew on the 4th July, 1940.

Flight Sergeant Heays was enlisted at the Initial Training Wing, Levin, on the 4th October, 1941 and embarked for Canada on the 17th November under the Empire Air Training Scheme.

F/Sgt. Heays arrived in Canada on the 1st December and was posted to No. 2 Wireless School, Calgary, Alberta, on the 5th of the same month and thence on the 7th November, 1942 to No. 5 Bombing and Gunnery School, Dafoe, Saskatchewan, where on the 7th December, 1942 he was awarded the wireless operator air gunners' badge and promoted to Sergeant. He was further promoted to Flight Sergeant on the 7th June, 1943. Meanwhile he proceeded to No. 1 "Y" Depot, Halifax, Nova Scotia on the 29th December to await embarkation to the United Kingdom, but instead was posted on the 23rd January, 1943 to No. 111 Operational Training Unit at Nassau, in the West Indies, where he trained on Mitchell aircraft. Early in April, 1943 he converted to and trained on Liberator aircraft. On the 23rd June, 1943, he embarked for the United Kingdom.

F/Sgt. Heays arrived at No. 12 (RNZAF) Personnel Despatch and Receiving Centre, Brighton, on the 4th July, 1943 and on the 20th of the same month was posted to No. 1 (Coastal) Operational Training Unit at Silloth, Cumberland, where he crewed up and completed his training as wireless operator air gunner of Liberator aircraft. On the 31st August he was posted to No. 53 Squadron at Beaulieu,