372

AJM/NF

44781: Flight Sergeant Wilfred Ian DAVIDSON.
MOTHER: Mrs. S.B.M. Davidson of Feilding.

Ian Davidson was born in New Zealand on the 19th
, July, 1913, and was a farmer who left New Zealand in 1938 with
a shipment of live stock for the Argentine. He was still
there when War broke out, and in 1941 he volunteered for service
through the British Consul and was enlisted at No. 1 Aircrew
Reception Centre, Euston, London, on the 1st January, 1942. He
served at R.A.F. Stations Lossiemouth, in Scotland, Leuchars, in
Scotland and Cranfield, in Buckinghamshire, before posting on
the 22nd November to Brighton. He was remustered to aircrew
on the 1st January, 1943, and posted to No.22 Elementary Flying
Training School at Cambridge for his pilot grading, after which
he was reposted to the aircrew despatch centre for embarkation
to Canada to train under the Empire Air Training Scheme.

Flight Sergeant Davidson arrived in Canada early
in April, 1943, and was posted to No. 6 Elementary Flying Training
School, Prince Albert, Saskatchewan, where his pilot training
was terminated and he was posted on the 10th June to No. 2
"M" Depot, Debert, Nova Scotia. Here he was remustered to air
bomber and posted to No. 7 Bombing and Gunnery School, Paulson,
Manitoba late in July and thence - on the 4th October - to No. 1
Central Navigation School, Rivers, Manitoba, where - on the 12th
November - he was awarded his air bomber's badge and promoted
to Sergeant. He was further promoted to Flight Sergeant on the
12th November, 1944. Meanwhile he embarked during November,
1943, for the United Kingdom.

F/Sgt. Davidson arrived at No. 7 Personnel Reception
Centre, Harrogate, on the 2nd December, 1943, and, after
completing a course at the R.A.F. Regimental School at Whitley Bay,
Northumberland, during February, 1944, was posted on the 7th
March to No. 9 (Observer) Advanced Flying Unit, Penrhos,