PLYING OFFICER CROUDIS

Hutt News, Volume 16, Issue 40, 31 March 1943, Page 2

PLYING OFFICER CROUDIS

Flying Officer Jack Wallace Croudis, whose death»on active service was recently announced, was the eldest son of Mr. and Mrs. R. G. Croudis, of North.

Flying Officer Croudis was aged 26 and was engaged on the instructional section of the service. Born in Blenheim, he received his primary school education in several districts; but his secondary school education was confined to the Waipawa District High School and the Hutt Valley High School, Flying Officer CrciuT dis joined the R.N.Z.A.F. early in 1941, leaving New Zealand in August of the same year as sergeant pilot. He was engaged in England in piloting training bombers and their crews, and it was not until the first 1000-bomber raids that he first went into active service. Included in his training whilst in England was a special observer's course, and it was not long before he received his commission His promotion from pilot officer to flying officer followed quickly. He was well known in sporting circles, particularly in the Hutt Valley. He was a Hutt Valley table tennis representative player, champion of the Petone Tennis Club and a member of the Petone Rugby Football Club. Prior to joining the R.N.Z.A.F. he was employed by the New Zealand Railways, working at head office, Wellington. He married Miss Jean Matterscm, of Wellington, in. 1941.