243

DA/NF

41173: Sergeant Francis William O'SULLIVAN.
PARENTS: Mr. & Mrs. C. O'Sullivan of Hastings.

Francis O'Sullivan was born on the 18th October, 1918, at
Napier and received his education at Hastings Convent School. The
sports in which he was interested in included football and swimming. At
the time of his making application for aircrew training on the 12th
March, 1940, he was employed as a shop assistant by Woolworths (NE)
Ltd., Hastings.

Sergeant O'Sullivan was enlisted as the Initial Training
Wing, Levin, on the 15th March, 1941, and on the completion of his
initial training he embarked on the 26th May, 1941, for Canada under
the Empire Air Training Scheme.

Shortly after arrival in Canada Sgt. O'Sullivan was posted
on the 16th June, 1941, to No. 3 Wireless School, Winnipeg, Manitoba.
On the 4th December, 1941, he was posted to the Composite Training
School, Trenton, Ontario, where he was remustered to an air gunner and
posted on the 3rd January, 1942, to No. 9 Bombing and Gunnery School,
Mont Joli, Quebec. On the 16th February, 1942, he was awarded his
air gunner's badge and promoted to the rank of Sargeant. On the 24th
February, 1942, he was posted to No. 1 "Y" Depot, Halifax, Nova Scotia,
for emarkation to the United Kingdom.

Sgt. O'Sullivan arrived at No. 3 Personnel Reception Centre,
Bournemouth, on the 10th March, 1942, and was posted on the 29th of
April to No. 11 Operational Training Unit, Bassingbourn, Hertfordshire,
where he trained as air gunner on Wellington bomber aircraft. During
August he underwent a gunnery course at No. 1483 Gunnery Flight,
Stradishall, Suffolk, before posting late in September to No. 149