506

413015: Sergeant Stephen William George BISHOP

Parents: Mr. and Mrs. R.C. Bishop of Miramar, Wellington

Stephen Bishop was born at Wellington on the 23rd April 1917,
and receieved his secondary education at Levin District High School,
passing the Matriculation Examination. He afterwards continued
by night classes at Wellington Technical College, Entings Commercial
College, and Victoria University College, and was successful in
passing the Professional Accountants examination and in gaining the
Batchelor of Commerce degree. From the time of leaving school in 1934 until
applying for enlistment in Aircrew, on the 24th March 1941, he was
employed in a clerical capacity by the Post and Telegraph
Department at Wellington.

Sergeant Bishop was enlisted at Levin on the 25th May 1941 and
posted on the 6th July to Harewood for his elementary flying training:
afterwards proceeding on the 19th August to No. 2 Service Flying
Training School, Woodbourne, Blenheim. Here on the 8th November,
he was awarded the flying badge and promoted to the rank of Sergeant,
afterwards embarking on the 20th November for the Far East.

He arrived at Singapore during December and was evacuated to
Java before the occupation of Malaya by the enemy, returning to
New Zealand by way of Australia towards the end of March, 1942.

Sergeant Bishop reported to Levin on the 15th April after
a period of leave, and remained there until posted on the 2nd
August to Nelson for flying duties. He embarked on the 2nd
October for service with No. 3 Squadron in the Pacific Area.

Sergeant Bishop was a member of the crew on a Hudson
aircraft which crashed into the sea near Espiritu Santo on the
16th October 1942, all the crew, including Sergeant Bishop, losing
their lives, but their bodies were not recovered from the sea.
In due course the death of Sergeant Bishop was presumed to have
occurred on the 16th December 1942.

5/2/9282 AS2

Mr. R.C. Bishop (F)
31 Napier Street,
MIRAMAR E 5