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402842 F/O John Desmond BEW
Father: Mr. J. W. Bew of Ellerslie
Fiancee: Mrs. D. M. Hudson

John Bew was born at Ellerslie on 19th October, 1914.
He was educated at Sacred Heart College and later at Seddon Memorial
Technical College, and also attended lectures at Auckland University
College. [struckout] He was a member of the Ruapehu Ski Club [/struckout]
He took a course of Aerial Navigation in 1937, and was interested
in Flying, holding an "A" license at Auckland Aero Club. At the
same time he was employed in Theatre management with his father until
in 1939 he owned a Stationery business of his own.
He applied for the Civil Air Reserve in 1938, and renewed his
enlistment for Air Crew immediately on the outbreak of war. In
September 1940 his flying training began at Taieri and he won his
Flying Badge at Blenheim in December. He was commissioned as Pilot
Officer on March 22nd 1941, and was chosen as a Flying Instructor.
Many younger pilots were trained by him at Whenuapai and at Taieri
between June 1941 and August 1943, by which time he had 1800 flying
hours to his credit. He then became a Flying Officer and a member
of No. 2 (Fighter) Operational Training Unit at Ohakea, where he
became a qualified service pilot of Harvard and Kittyhawk aircraft.
In September 1943 he was posted to No. 18 Fighter Squadron and went
to Espiritu Santo, Guadalcanal, Munda and Ondonga, where, as fighter
pilot of a Kittyhawk, he took part in patrols, bomber escorts, patrol
over the Treasury Island landing by the 2nd N.Z.E.F.I.P., Dumbo
escort and task force cover.
[handwritten][struckout]"He was, in every sense, one of the team, and was not only a capable & experienced pilot but also a good friend, to all."[/handwritten][/struckout]
On November 21st, 1943, he was taking off from Ondonga for a strike at
Bougainville, and his aircraft was just airborne, when the engine
apparently failed. The aircraft crashed and F/O Bew lost his life.
He was buried at Bourail, New Caledonia.

4/2/5170 A.S.2. (2009 flying hours)
Mr. J. W. Bew, (Father)
Southern Cross Theatre,
ELLERSLIE, AUCKLAND.