Pilot Officer Joseph Darcy Sterling   - RNZAF

The crew consisted of:

 Pilot Officer Joseph Darcy Keith Sterling RNZAF(NZ421540) known as “Darcy”, was born at Matakohe, Northland, New Zealand on the 3^rd April 1921.He was the son of Joseph and Jeannie Lamberton Sterling. He received his secondary education at Kings College, Otahuhu and Auckland Grammar school. His interest in sports included cricket, tennis and rugby. He worked on his father’s farm at Matakohe.

 After serving in the Cadet Corps he applied for War Service Training in the aircrew section of the RNZAF on the 3^rd June 1941 and was then posted to Whenuapai for ground duties. In October he was remustered and posted to the Initial Training Wing, Rotorua to commence training as an airman pilot. In November he proceeded to No 1 Elementary Flying School,Taiere. After embarking for Canada on the “Matsonia” on the 12^th February 1943 under the Empire Training Scheme., he was posted to No 12 Service Flying Training School at Brandon, Manitoba. On the 3^rd September 1943, he was awarded his flying badge and promoted to Sergeant.

 On the 8^th of November he left for New York before arriving in the U.K. on the 8^th October 1943.After arrival at No12(RNZAF) Personnel Reception Centre, Brighton, P/O Sterling was posted to No 24 Elementary Flying School, Sealand, Cheshire and then, on the 14^th March 1944 to NO 20 Advanced Flying Unit, Weston-on-the-Green, Oxfordshire. On March 3^rd he was promoted to Flight Sergeant before posting to No 12 OTU at Chipping Warden, Oxfordshire in May on Wellingtons. On completion of the course he proceeded to No 1653 HCU at Chedburgh, Suffolk on Stirlings. After joining 115 squadron on 23^rd November 1944 as Pilot he completed several operational flights over enemy territory, the targets including Cologne, Mereeburg, Osterfeld, Rhaydr and Vohwinkel in Germany. He was commissioned to Pilot Officer on the 24^th December 1944. His  seventh, and sadly to be his final posting was as second pilot on Avro Lancaster 1NG332/IL-D “Dog” at RAF Witchford, Cambridgeshire.

The 21^st Army group temporarily buried the eight crew  members at Fosse U.S .Temporary Military Cemetery. They were later laid to rest in Leopoldsburg War Cemetery. When the aircraft failed to return to base, the crew were reported missing. Later, information received from the Air Ministry revealed that the crew had been shot down In consequence to this,P/O Sterling was reclassified as missing, believed killed in action and his death officially presumed.