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403954: Flight Sergeant Richard Maxwell DARLING.
MOTHER: Mrs. M.A. Darling of Waiwera.

Richard Darling was born at Dargaville on the
9th January, 1914, and received his secondary education at the
King's College, Auckland, where he passed his University
Entrance Examination. He engaged in golf, tennis, running,
swimming, football, and boxing, and was a member of the school
first XV. He later played golf for the Auckland Golf Club.
At the time of his enlistment he was employed as a motor
salesman by H.C. Rees of Auckland.

F/Sgt. Darling applied for aircrew training on the
28th September, 1939, but his application was deferred on
medical grounds. He was enlisted on the 27th October, 1940,
at the Ground Training School, Levin. On the 27th November,
he proceeded to No. 2 Elementary Flying Training School,
New Plymouth, to commence training as a pilot. In December,
his flying training was terminated and he was remustered to
Air Observer, returning to the Ground Training School, Levin,
on the 15th February, 1941. On successfully completing the
course there, he embarked on the "Aorangi" on the 24th March,
1941, for Canada, to continue his training under the Empire
Air Training Scheme.

Shortly after arrival in Canada, F/Sgt. Darling
was posted, in the 17th April, 1941, to No. 6 Air Observers
School, Prince Albert, Saskatchewan, and thence on the
6th July to No. 3 Bombing and Gunnery School, MacDonald,
Manitoba, where he was awarded his Air Observer's badge and
promoted to Sergeant on the 18th August, 1941. On the
1st August, 1942, he was promoted to Flight Sergeant. After
a course at No. 1 Advanced Navigation School, Rivers, Manitoba,
he embarked from No. 1 "Y" Depton, Halifax, late in September,
1941, for the United Kingdom.