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416113: PILOT OFFICER GEORGE VINCENT HELM.
Parents: Mr. and Mrs. H.V. HELM OF INVERCARGILL.

George Helm was born at Invercargill on the 23rd February 1920 and received his secondary education at Southland Technical College where he passed the Senior Free Place examination. The sports in which he was actively interested were swimming, mountaineering, tramping and athletics. Later he attended a course at the Canterbury Agricultural College, Lincoln and at the time of making application for war service in the Royal New Zealand Air Force, on the 13th December 1940, he was employed as a farm cadet by Mr. D. McRae of Dipton.

Pilot Officer Helm was enlisted for aircrew training on the 9th November, 1941 at the Initial Training Wing, Levin, and was posted on the 21st December to No. 1 Elementary Flying Training School, Taieri, where he commenced his flying training. On the 17th March 1942 he embarked for Canada to continue his training under the Empire Air Training Scheme.

Pilot Officer Helm arrived at No. 1 "M" Depot, Brandon, Manitoba on the 14th April 1942 and was posted on the 26th of the same month to No. 4 Service Flying Training School, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, where on the 14th August, 1942 he was awarded his Flying Badge and promoted to the rank of Sergeant. He was promoted to Flight Sergeant on the 1st June 1943 and on the 4th July, 1943 he was commissioned as Pilot Officer. Meanwhile, on the 15th September, 1942 he had proceeded to No. 31 (redacted Posting) Personnel Depot, Moncton, New Brunswick, to await embarkation to the United Kingdom, where he would complete his training and commence operational flying.

Pilot Officer Helm arrived at No. 3 Personnel Reception Centre, Bournemouth on the 8th October 1942 and was posted on the 27th October to No. 18 (Pilots) Advanced Flying Unit, Church Lawford, Warwickshire. He proceeded on the 29th December 1942 to No. 11