308

N.Z. 403580 Sergeant Reginald Joseph Stephen KELLY.
Parents: Mr. and Mrs. T. Kelly of AUCKLAND.

Reginald Kelly was born in Papakura, Auckland, on November 19th 1917 and received his seocndary education at the Stratford High School. At the time of making application for enlistment in the Royal New Zealand Air Force on November 28th 1939 he was employed as a Storeman and Driver by the Vacuum Oil Company Limited, Frankton.

Sergeant Kelly was enlisted at the Training Depot, Levin, on September 29th 1940, as Air Gunner under training. He embarked for Canada on November 5th by the "Awatea" under the Empire Air Training Scheme.

On arriving in Canada Sergeant Kelly was posted to No. 2 Wireless School, Calgary, Alberta on November 21st 1940 proceeding to No.3 Bombing and Gunnery School, MacDonald, Manitoba, on April 26th, 1941. Here he was awarded his Air Gunner's Badge and promoted to the rank of Sergeant on May 26th. On the following day he was transferred to No. 1 "M" Depot, Derbert, Nova Scotia for embarkation to the United Kingdom.

On his arrival in England on July 17th 1941 he was posted from No. 3 Personnel Reception Centre, Bournemouth to No. 1 Signal School, Cranwell towards the end of July. On October 7th he was transferred to No. 12 Operational Training Unit, Chipping Warden, thence on January 14th 1942 to No. 15 Operational Training Unit, Harwell. He was then posted to No. 75 (New Zealand) Squadron, Feltwell late in February 1942.

Sergeant Kelly was posted missing on air operations over German Territory on April 22nd 1942, when the Wellington bomber on which he was a member of the crew, failed to return to base. No trace of the aircraft or its crew were ever found and death was presumed to all occupants, including Sergeant Kelly.

5/15/261 A.S.2.
No Logbook.

Mr. T. Kelly (F) (right aligned)
14 Ponsonby Terrace, (right aligned)
Ponsonby, (right aligned)
AUCKLAND. (right aligned)