Mervyn Ingram | |
|---|---|
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| Born | 13 December 1921 Dunedin, New Zealand |
| Died | 11 July 1944 (aged 22) Imphal, India |
| Allegiance | New Zealand |
| Service | Royal New Zealand Air Force (1940–1944) |
| Rank | Squadron leader |
| Commands | No. 152 Squadron |
| Battles / wars | |
| Awards | Distinguished Flying Cross |
Mervyn Robert Bruce Ingram, DFC (13 December 1921 – 11 July 1944) was a New Zealand flying ace of the Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF) during the Second World War. He is credited with at least eight aerial victories.
Born in Dunedin, Ingram joined the RNZAF in 1940. After completing his flight training, the latter part of which was received in the United Kingdom, he was posted to the Royal Air Force's No. 66 Squadron in June 1941 and then onto No. 611 Squadron. He was an original member of No. 486 Squadron when it was formed in March 1942. A month later he was dispatched to the Mediterranean theatre to fly with No. 601 Squadron as part of Malta's aerial defences. During his period of service on Malta he claimed his first aerial victories. The squadron later shifted to Egypt and he participated in the Western Desert campaign until the end of 1942. After a period of duty as an instructor, he returned to operations with No. 232 Squadron in June 1943 before being given command of No. 152 Squadron, equipped with Supermarine Spitfires and operating over Sicily. He took his command to India in November 1943, and it soon began participating in flight operations over India and Burma. He died several days after crashing his aircraft on landing at Imphal, having contracted malaria and tetanus while in hospital.