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N.Z. 423420 Flight Sergeant Stanley Allan RAE. (surname underlined)
Widow Mrs. T.A. Rae of Auckland.
Parents Mr. & Mrs. W.M. Rae of Auckland.

Stanley Rae was born at Thames on the 12th January 1915 and received his secondary education at the Hamilton Technical College. He played rugby football being a member of his school's First Fifteen, and later played representative football for Hamilton. On leaving school he was employed for some years in farming with his father at Papakaura, and in 1937 joined the Police Department, Auckland as a constable. He was so employed on the 10th March 1941 when he applied for aircrew training in the R.N.Z.A.F.

Flight Sergeant Rae was enlisted at Nelson on the 27th May 1942, and was employed there on ground duties until the 3rd September, when he was remustered to Airman Pilot and posted to the Initial Training Wing, Rotorua. He then proceeded on the 16th October to No. 3 Elementary Flying Training School, Harewood, and on completion of the course there was posted on the 20th December to No. 1 Flying Training School, Wigram. While at this Unit, he was awarded the Flying Badge on the 15th March 1943, and promoted to the rank of Sergeant on the 6th May. Shortly after his promotion on the 29th of the month, he embarked for the United Kingdom, travelling by way of the United States of America.

On arrival in England, on the 8th July, Flight Sergeant Rae remained attached to No. 12 Personnel Reception Centre, Brighton until his posting on the 3rd August to No. 14 (Pilots) Advanced Flying Unit, Banff, and later at Dallachy, both in Scotland. He returned to Banff on the 2nd September training on Oxford aircraft until the 21st December when he proceeded to No. 10 Operational Training Unit, Abingdon, Berkshire for crewing up and training on Whitley bomber aircraft. His next posting was on the 15th April 1944, to No. 1652 Conversion Unit, Marston Moor, Yorkshire for conversion to Halifax aircraft prior to commencing operational flying as a member of No. 78 Squadron, Breighton, also in Yorkshire on the 26th April.

From this base as pilot of Halifax aircraft he took part in six operational flights, the targets being Mont Fleury, Trappes St. Lo, Juvisy.