HOWICK FLYER

Auckland Star, Volume LXXIII, Issue 169, 20 July 1942, Page 5

HOWICK FLYER

D.F.M. WINNER KILLED IN ACCIDENT Pilot-Officer lan Hamilton Irvine. D.F.M., son of Mr. and Mrs. F. A. Irvine, Gibraltar Crescent. Howick, lost his life as a result of an aircraft accident in England. Pilot-Officer Irvine was born at Whakatane in 1915, and was educated at Howick and the Seddon Memorial Technical College. He entered the service of the Post and Telegraph Department, and for nine years was employed at Howick and elsewhere, his final position being with the Chief Post Office, Auckland. He was keenly interested in the work of Manchester . Unity Oddfellows, and was grand master of the Howick Lodge.

At the outbreak of the war PilotOfficer Irvine enlisted in the Air Force, and, after completing his training in New Zealand, left for England at the end of February, 1941. He was promoted to pilotofficer last December. Prior to gaining his commission he was awarded the Distinguished Flying Medal for his skill and courage while participating in numerous fighter escorts to our bombers which attacked enemy shipping and important land targets. He was among those chosen for the New Zealand Hurricane Squadron.