473

On the 12th December, 1944, Flight Lieutenant
Berney proceeded to the Empire Central Flying School, Hullavington,
Wiltshire and at this school flew on Oxford, Harvard, Reliant,
Ventura and Hurricane aircraft. On the 14th February, 1945 he was
posted to the Path Finders'Navigation Training Unit, Warboys,
Huntingdonshire, prior to joining No. 582 Squadron at Little Staughton
in the same county, on the 28th of the month. From this base he
carried out a further 12 raids, bringing his total to 66, against
the following targets in Germany; Potsdam, Kamen, Mannheim, Hemingstadt,
Dulmen, Sterkrade, Hanover, Paderborn, Hamburg, Kiel (2) and
Wangerooge in the Frisian Islands. Immediately on the cessation of
hostilities, Flight Lieutenant Berney and his crew were ordered to
Lubeck in Germany to pick up 24 prisoners of war, whom they landed
at Seighford in Staffordshire. On the 15th June, 1945 he was posted
to No. 12 (RNZAF) Personnel Reception and Despatch Centre, Brighton
where he remained until late in October, when he embarked for New
Zealand.

Flight Lieutenant Berney arrived back in New
Zealand on the 20th December, 1945 and was granted 3 months dis-
embarkation leave. He was posted, on the 1st April, 1946, to No. 2
(B.R.) Squadron, Ohakea, where he trained on Ventura bomber aircraft.
During the latter part of July he attended a Hudson Conversion
Course, at the Central Flying School, Wigram. From the 5th August
to the 17th September he was re-attached to Wigram for a Link
Trainer Instructor's course. On the completion of the course he
returned to No. 2 (B.R.) Squadron at Ohakea. During October the
Squadron's name was changed to "No. 75 Squadron", to commemorate
this Squadron's fine record in the air war over Europe. On the 15th
November, 1946, Flight Lieutenant Berney was attached to the
Instrument Flying School, Whenuapai where he underwent a course of
one months duration. Upon his return to No. 75 Squadron he was
employed on flying duties with the Ohakea Station Flight.

Early in February, 1947, Flight Lieutenant