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July, 1943 ot No. 1665 Conversion Unit, Woolfox Lodge, Rutlandshire, where he graduated on Stirling bombers. On the 21st August, 1943 he was posted to No. 75 (NZ) Squadron, Mepal, Cambridgeshire, and commenced operational flying. With this Squadron he took part in six operational flights comprising attacks on Berlin (2), Nurenburg and Gladbach. He also carried out minelaying sorties off the Frisian Islands and off Bordeaux.

Pilot Officer Henley was captain of a Wellington bomber which took off on air operation at 7.30 p.m. on the 31st August, 1943 to attack the target of Berlin. The aircraft failed to return to its base and all members of the crew, including Pilot Officer Henley were classified as missing. Later, information was received from a German source through the International Red Cross Committee that Pilot Officer Henley had lost his life and he was in consequence, reclassified as missing believed killed. Later still, information was received that he had been buried in the Municipal Cemetery, Mayschoss, Germany. In due course, his death was officially presumed to have occurred on the 1st September, 1943. Subsequent to the cessation of hostilities his body was reinterred in the British Military Cemetery, Rheinberg.

The crew of the aircraft contained three other New Zealanders, Flying Officer C.A. Watson of Christchurch, Flight Sergeant I.H.R. Smith of Napier and Sergeant J.S. Grant of Waiwera South.

Pilot Officer Henley's brother, Flying Officer W.J. Henley also lost his life while serving with the Air Force during World War II.

Find a Grave link with a photo of Pilot Officer Henley: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/18406939/douglas_charles-henley

5/2/6169 AS2
993 hours as
PILOT. (underlined)

Mrs. M.A. Henley (M) (right aligned)
11 Henley Road, (right aligned)
Mount Eden, (right aligned)
AUCKLAND. (right aligned & underlined)