186

405314 Sergeant John OLIVER. (surname underlined)
Parents Mr. & Mrs. J.E. Oliver of Blenheim.

Born in Blenheim on the 8th October 1914, John Oliver received his secondary education at Marlborough College where he passed the Senior Free Place Examination. He played football for his school first Fifteen, and other sports of his were rifle shooting and tramping. Joining the Territorial Forces in 1938, he served for three years in the North Marlborough and West Coast Regiment. His civilian occupation was that of a joiner in the employ of the Fletcher Construction Co., Wellington. In December, 1939 he applied for war service in the Royal New Zealand Air Force.

Sergeant Oliver was enlisted for aircrew training on the 22nd December, 1940 and commenced his flying training on the 8th February, 1941, when he was posted to No. 1 Elementary Flying Training School, Taieri. On the 29th April, 1941 he embarked for Canada to continue his training under the Empire Air Training Scheme.

Shortly after his arrival in Canada, Sergeant Oliver was posted on the 27th May, 1941 to No. 32 Service Flying Training School, Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan. While here, on the 8th August, 1941 he was awarded his flying badge and received his promotion to Sergeant. Following this on the 16th August, he proceeded to No. 1 "Y" Depot, Halifax, Nova Scotia, to await embarkation for the United Kingdom.

Having arrived in England on the 14th September 1941 Sergeant Oliver was held at No. 3 Personnel Reception Centre, Bournemouth until posted on the 30th September, to No. 61 Operational Training Unit, Heston, Middlesex, to complete his training on Spitfire fighter aircraft prior to being posted on the 19th November 1941 to No. 154 Squadron (redacted first at) Fowlmere, Cambridgeshire, and commencing his operational flying. With this squadron as pilot of a spitfire fighter he engaged in seven operational flights comprising four convoy patrols, two enemy aircraft interception flights and one dawn patrol.

On the 8th May, 1942 Sergeant Oliver was pilot of a Spitfire fighter aircraft which crashed near Church Stanton, Somerset. Sergeant Oliver being killed.