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RAF 36266 Pilot Officer John Laurance BICKERDIKE
Parents: Senior Sergeant and Mrs J. Bickerdike of Wellington.

John Bickerdike was born at Christchurch on the
11th February, 1919, and received his secondary education at
King's College Auckland, where he had a brilliant sports record,
representing the College in football, cricket and athletics. He
was College Heavyweight Boxing Champion, and a member of his
House shooting and tennis teams. After leaving school he was
employed as a sports and general announcer with the Commercial
Broadcasting Corporation at Station 3ZB, Christchurch. He applied
for enrolment in the Civil Reserve of Pilots of the Royal New
Zealand Air Force in February, 1939, and for a Short Service
Commission in the Royal Air Force in March of the same year. He was
accepted for the latter, commencing his training with the Canterbury
Aero Club on the 26th June, 1939. Prior to this he had completed
a number of hours solo flying with the Canterbury Aero Club. His ab
initio training included 20 hours dual and 30 hours solo, before
posting to the Service Flying Training School, Wigram in September,
1939. Here, as an Acting Pilot Officer, he trained on Vildebeeste
and Gordon aircraft, and was awarded the Flying Badge before
proceeding overseas early in March, 1940 to join Royal Air
Force.

Pilot Officer Bickerdike arrived at R.A.F. Depot,
Uxbridge on the 13th April, 1940 and early in May commenced further
training on Hawker Hind and Hawker Hector aircraft at No. 1 Fighter
Pilot Unit, Meir. On the 16th May he proceeded to No. 6 Operational
Training Unit, Suttonbridge, Lincolnshire, where he completed his
operational training on Harvard and Hurricane aircraft. Late in May
he was posted to No. 85 Squadron at Debden, Essex and with this
Squadron during July, 1940 carried out 32 operational flights, mainly
defensive patrols. He was successful in shooting down a Heinkel
the first time he encountered the enemy.

Pilot Officer Bickerdike was the pilot of a
Hurricane aircraft engaged in a training flight on the 22nd July,