AIRMAN’S DEATH

Otago Daily Times, Issue 25587, 14 July 1944, Page 4

AIRMAN’S DEATH

SQUADRON LEADER INGRAM, D.F.C. Advice has been received by Mr and Mrs C. W. N. Ingram that their eldest son, Squadron Leader Mervyn Robert Bruce Ingram, D.F.C., has died of injuries received while on flying operations. Squadron Leader Ingram, who was only 22 years of age, enlisted in September, 1939, when he was 17. After completing a pre-entry course, he commenced his training in July, 1940, and left for overseas early in 1941 with the rank of sergeant pilot. He served as a fighter pilot in England and Scotland, gaining his commission in 1941 before going to Malta in the United States aircraft carrier Wasp. He fought in the air battles over the much-bombed island, and became one of the 20 New Zealanders entitled to wear the Malta

Star. With the rank of flight lieutenant he was transferred to the Middle East theatre, and won the immediate award of the D.F.C. at El Alamein. He continued to serve in this campaign until he was obliged to enter hospital shortly before the Allies invaded Tunisia. He later returned to Malta and took part in the operations over Sicily, during which he was promoted to the rank of squadron leader and appointed to the command of No. 152 (Hyderabad) Squadron. With this squadron he served in Italy before being transferred to his latest sphere of operations, where he received the injuries from which he died.

Squadron Leader Ingram was educated at the Dunedin North Intermediate School and the Otago Boys’ High School, and was a promising all-round sportsman. He was an active member of the Fire Brigade Lawn Tennis Club and the Pirates Football Club, and in 1939 was selected for the Otago junior representative Rugby team. He was also a prominent member of the Dunedin Swimming Club, and had many swimming successes to his credit, including the New Zealand Junior Diving Championship, the Otago Intermediate Diving Championship, and the Otago Junior Backstroke Championship. He was a member of the St. Clair Surf Life-saving Club, and was selected in several representative life-saving teams. His father, Mr C. W. N. Ingram, is senior officer at the Central Fire Station.