LIEUT. SAM DAWSON

WINS THE DISTINGUISHED FLYING CROSS. Local residents will read with much interest the following account, taken from the "Chronicles oftheN.Z.B.F." of the adventures of Lieut. Sam Dawson, formerly on the staff of the Te Puke Post Office :- Lieut S. Dawson, of Maslerton, who is a naval pilot in the Rqyal Air Force, recently made a rapid and interesting tour of Germany, Denmark, Sweden and Norway, and then back to his British base. He was one of the party who successfully bombed a Zeppelin base in Schleswig from a very low altitude, early in the morning of July —, when at least two ZeDpejins.and their sheds were destroyed. The target for a considerable amount of anti-air-craft fire, he flew lengthways along a great Zeppelin shed, dropping his bombs, which he saw burst on the building with fine effect. His petrol had been exhausted in his search for his objective, and, there being insufficient to take him home, he was compelled to land in Denmark, where he was most hospit : ably received, One old Dane went so far with his hospitality as to offer him the remainder of a cigar he had three-quarters smoked. He was not hankering after an indefinite holiday in Denmark, so he immediately contemplated escape, He managed to get hold of some civilian clothes and set forth, cut the authorities took him in charge, together with two other pilots, who had also been compelled to land in Denmark. Although under guard he enjoyed life thoroughly, and greatly appreciated the hospitality of the Danes. It was arranged that he should be put under parole to purchase clothing, but some time before the parole was to come into operation he donned some of his detective's garb, hastened unseen out of his hotel and set forth. He spent a few merry days in various disguises', dodging. German detectives, cycling long distances and intriguing with various people. At length he crossed to Sweden in a small boat and landed unseen on the coast, having passed a German patrol on the way. He had a pleasant time on his way through Sweden and Norway, appreciating alike the humours of the journey and the excellence of these countries, which, he says, are in parts, very much like our own islands. Eventually he arrived back at headquarters. He .first joined theN.Z.E.F. but bad health prevented him accompanying it on service. He then W:M in'o the Australian Navv as a wire ess operator, and was for some time in the Mediterranean with an Australian hospital ship, joining the air force recently. For his fine work in this raid, Lieut Dawson has been' awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross, which was bestowed on him by H.M. the King at Buckingham Pahcft.