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MJR/NF (right aligned)
43484 : Warrant Officer George Gregory KENDALL.
PARENTS : Mr. & Mrs. W.H. Kendall, Palmerston North.

George Kendall was born at Takapau on July 25, 1924, and was educated at New Plymouth Boys' High School. He was interested in rugby football and tennis. Prior to his enlistment in the RNZAF he was employed on his father's farm at Aukopae, Taumaranui.

W/O Kendall applied in August, 1941 for enrolment in the Air Training Corps., in which he was a correspondence cadet up till the time he entered the Air Force. He applied for training as a pilot in July, 1942, and entered camp at Omaka on January 9, 1943. The following month he was posted to Taieri, and early in April proceeded to Rotorua. After completing his course at the Initial Training Wing, he went on to No. 2 Elementary Flying Training School, Ashburton. In July he was posted to No. 1 Service Flying Training School, Wigram, where he was awarded the flying badge on September 27, 1943. He was promoted to Sergeant on November 20, 1943. On May 20, 1944 he was promoted to Flight Sergeant, and a year later to Warrant Officer. On January 2, 1944 he embarked for the United Kingdom.

On his arrival in England W/O Kendall proceeded to No. 12 (RNZAF) Personnel Reception Centre, Brighton. During May he was attached to No. 24 Elementary Flying Training School, Sealand, near Chester, for a short course on Tiger Moth aircraft. In September, 1944 he was posted to No. 12 Advanced Flying Unit, Spitalgate, Lincolnshire, where he trained on Oxford aircraft until October, when he was attached to Newton, Nottinghamshire, for a Beam Approach Training course, after which he returned to Spitalgate for a conversion course to Bristol Blenheim aircraft. He proceeded to No. 51 Operational Training Unit, Cranfield, Buckinghamshire, for further training on Beaufort and Mosquito aircraft on January 9, 1945. He completed the course and the end of May was posted to No. 12 Ferry Unit, Melton, Mobray, Leicestershire, for flying duty on Mosquito aircraft.