PILOT’S HEROISM.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 62, Issue 227, 8 July 1942, Page 4

PILOT’S HEROISM.

REVEALED FROM PRISON CAMP. LONDON, July 6. Messages received from German prison camps have resulted in the approval by the King of the award of the Distinguished Flying. Medal to a British flight sergeant. He is Flight Sergeant James, of Leeds, aged 20. Flight Sergeant James was the captain of a Whitley bomber which attacked Cologne, and his aircraft was hit by anti-aircraft fire. V hen fie realised fiow severely damaged the aircraft was lie ordered the crew to bail out. The wireless operator s paiachute was damaged, so, without hesitation, Flight Sergeant James gave his own parachute to the operator, landed the bomber himself, and set it on fire before being • taken prisoner. This took place in August last, but the story has now been pieced together from letters sent home by members of the crew. Flight Sergeant James belittled his own part in the action, and later mentioned that lie had been operated oil twice. He mentioned casually that he had given his parachute to the wireless operator. The navigator, writing home, sail: “You would he proud if i told you the whole story.”