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2171 Squadron Leader Paul Wattling RABONE (surname underlined)
WIDOW: Mrs. P.B. Rabone of Sussex, England
PARENTS: Mr. and Mrs. C.N. Rabone of Keri Keri, Bay of Islands.

Paul Rabone was born at Salisbury, Wiltshire, England on March 2nd 1918, and accompanied his parents who were both New Zealanders to the Dominion at an early age. He received his secondary education at the New Plymouth Boys' High School and the Palmerston North Technical College. He played football for his College 1st XV and afterwards Senior Football for the Hastings Club, also taking part in tennis and cricket. He served in the 7th Field Battery of the Territorial Army from September 1935 to June 1936. In April 1938 he was selected for the Civil Reserve of Pilots obtaining his Pilots "A" License as a pupil of the Middle Districts Aero Club. He completed further training with the Auckland Aero Club, proceeding late in July, 1938 to Wigram for his service training. He was awarded the Flying Badge on October 13th. On acceptance for a short service commission in the Royal Air Force, he embarked by the "Tainui" for the United Kingdom early in February 1939.

Squadron Leader Rabone arrived in England on March 15th and was appointed to a commission in the rank of Pilot Officer. He was further promoted to Flying Officer on September 3rd, 1940, to Flight Lieutenant on December 27th 1940 and was granted the acting rank of Squadron Leader on July 7th 1941. He transferred to the Royal New Zealand Air Force in March 1944 while still serving with the Royal Air Force, being confirmed in the rank of Squadron Leader on July 1st 1944.

Meanwhile Squadron Leader Rabone had been posted in April 1939 to No. 88 Bomber Squadron on flying duties and early in September was attached to the Advanced Air Striking Force in France. In August 1940 he transferred to No. 145 Squadron (location redacted), then to No. 83 Squadron early in May 1941. He assumed command of No. 1451 Flight of this Squadron in October, proceeding a month later to Kenley for training as air controller. In December he was posted to No. 1528 Beam Approach Flight as Flight Commander. On May 14th 1942 he went to Kirton Lindsey as Squadron Commander for No. 96 Squadron. Other postings included to No. 488 Squadron, Church Fenton in August 1942; No. 51 Operational Training Unit, at the end of April, 1943; and to No. 23 Squadron, Middle East in June. He was appointed flying instructor at No. 60 Operational Training Unit in December 1943.

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