481

SB/NF
421495 : Flight Sergeant Roland Desmond Ernest BETLEY
WIFE : Mrs. B.I.M. Betley of Fielding
PARENTS : Mr. & Mrs. J. E. Betley of Fielding.

Roland Betley was born at Hastings on 2nd August, 1921.
He received his education at Lytton Street School, Fielding and
Palmerston North Technical School. He played football and cricket
and was interested in swimming and shooting. Prior to enlisting
in the RNZAF on the 2nd March, 1942, Roland Betley was employed as
an electrical engineer apprentice by Messrs. Thomas Borthwick &
Sons Ltd., Fielding.

From March to October, 1942 he was employed on ground
duties at RNZAF Station, Milson, being posted to the Initial
Training Wing, Rotorua on the 15th October, 1942 for his initial
training course. Having completed this successfully, he commenced
flying training at No. 2. Elementary Flying Training School,
Ashburton on the 28th November, 1942.

His advanced flying training was carried out at Canada,
he embarking in February, 1941 and arriving at No. 10 Service
Flying Training School, Dauphin, Manitoba on the 19th March, 1943.
He was awarded the Flying Badge and promoted to Sergeant on 9th
July, 1943. He proceeded to the United Kingdom, continuing his
flying training at No. 11 Advanced Flying Unit, Shawbury, Shropshire
on the 28th August, piloting Airspeed Oxford aircraft. Three
months later he was posted to No. 11 Operational Training Unit,
Westcott, Buckinghamshire for training on Vickers Wellington bomber
type aircraft. He was promoted to Flight Sergeant on 9th January,
1944.
His next move was to No. 1651 Conversion Unit, Wratting
Common, in Cambridge in March. He flew Short Sterling heavy
bombers until the end of May, when he went to No. 3 Lancaster
Finishing School, Feltwell for training on Lancaster bombers
prepatory to joining the famous No. 75 (NZ) Squadron located at
Mepal, Cambridge.