349

NZ 411862. Flying Officer Montague Eric DARK.
Mother. Mrs M.C.Dark of Wanganui.

Montague Dark was born at Sydenham,England on March 31st
1921.He came to New Zealand when he was five years old,andnwent to
live in Wanganui.He was educated at the Wellington ^Wanganui Technical College,
where he passed the Post and Telegraph Entrance Exam,and partook
of all sports and was a member of the cadet corps.On leaving school he
worked as a draughtsman in the Post and Telegraph Department in
Wellington.

On March 23rd 1941 Montague Dark enlisted at Levin as an
airman pilot under training,and at completion of the G^round Train-
ing course was posted to the Service Flying Training School,New
Plymouth,in May . In June he was transferred to Ohakea,here he gained
80% in the Wings' Exam and permission to wear the Flying Badge from
July 26th.At the completion of a very satisfactory course on September
6th,he was promoted Pilot Officer and recommended for an instructor.
Pilot Officer Dark was a good sound and studious type and became a
staff pilot at Blenheim.Then in November he was posted to the ^{Central Flying School} C.F.S,
Tauranga for an Instructors' Course.Once again he worked successfully,
and it was reported that he had"natural ability and flow and demonstra-
ted well". In January he returned to Harewood as a Flying instructor,
where he remained until posted to Taurange in May 1943 for a conversion
course on Harvards.Here again his natural flyiing ability was proved
and his work as Instructor considered valuable.

At the completion of this course he reported to No.
2S.F.T.S,Woodbourne in June,and instructed to September 21st when he
was posted to No.2 Fighter Operational Training Unit,Ohakea for con-
version to Kittyhawks.At the end of this course he he was promoted
Flying Officer and posted to No.16 Squadron,Fairhall.He went forward
with the squadron to Espiritu Santo in November,and after further
flying formation practice was transferred Ondonga,New Georgia.Here he
was mainly employed as an escort or cover for American forces which
wre then beginning their northwards push.