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N.Z. 39946 Squadron Leader Russell Redway STEWART (surname underlined)
Wife Mrs. H. Stewart of Christchurch.
Mother Mrs. F.Z. Stewart also of Christchurch.

Russell Stewart was born at Christchurch on the 25th November 1915, and received his secondary education at Christchurch Boys' High School which he attended for five years passing the Matriculation examination. His sports at school were football, athletics and tennis and he was also interested in golf. After leaving school he was employed as a clerk by Messrs. Pyne, Gould, Guiness Ltd., Stock & Station Agents, of Christchurch. In 1939 he joined the Civil Reserve of Pilots, and began his training with the Canterbury Aero Club, but this was interrupted by the outbreak of war, whereupon he immediately applied for service in the Royal New Zealand Air Force.

Squadron Leader Stewart was enlisted in the Ground Training School at Levin on the 26th October 1939 and after completing his preliminary training was posted to No. 1 Elementary Flying Training School, Taieri on the 20th November. From Taieri his next posting was to No. 1 Flying Training School, Wigram on the 16th January 1940 where he was given more advanced training on Vildebeeste and Gordon aircraft. While here he was awarded the Flying Badge on the 21st March and at the end of the course was promoted to Sergeant on the 4th May. Later while overseas he was granted a commission in the rank of Pilot Officer, on the 12th April 1941 and was promoted to Flying Officer on the 29th October 1941. Prior to this last promotion he had been made acting Flight Lieutenant on the 29th July 1941 and on the 5th December 1941, was made acting Squadron Leader. Meanwhile he had embarked on the 24th May 1940 on the "Mataroa" at Wellington and sailed for the United Kingdom.

On his arrival in England he reported first to the Royal Air Force Depot, at Uxbridge, Middlesex on the 10th July 1940. After being held here for a time he was posted on the 27th July to No. 12 Operational Training Unit, Benson, Oxfordshire, where he was trained for operational flying on Battle aircraft. At the end of this period of training he was posted on the 26th September to No. 88 Squadron, then stationed at Sydenham, in Northern Ireland where he was given further squadron training, and carried out fifteen operational patrols. In July 1941 No. 88 Squadron moved to Swanton