AWARDS MADE

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 63, Issue 229, 8 July 1943, Page 5

AWARDS MADE

NEW ZEALAND AIRMEN. SKILL AND BRAVERY RECOGNISED. (P.A.) WELLINGTON, July 7. The award of the Distinguished Service Order to Pilot Officer Valentine Stuart Moore, D.F.M., of Taumarunui, and of a bar to the Distinguished Flying Cross of Acting-Squadron Leader Reginald Joseph Cow r an Grant, D.F.C., D.F.M., of Auckland, is announced in official advice received by the Air Department. Details have also been received of the recent award of the Distinguished Service Oi’der to Act-ing-Wing Commander A. C. Deere, D.F.C., and bar, of Wanganui. The citations state that Pilot Officer Moore has completed many missions since he w T as awarded the D.F.M. in June, 1942, nearly all of them against heavily defended targets, and three being raids on Berlin. He has always attacked his target with determina,tion, skill, and great courage, never sparing any effort to make the attacks successful. Even enemy opposition at its heaviest has not deterred him from conscientious completion of his duties. Pilot Officer Moore w’as born in New Plymouth in 1912, and was educated at the Taumarunui District High School. He entered the R.N.Z.A.F. early in the war and left for overseas in 1941. In June last year he wrns reported missing; but later reached safety, suffering slight injuries. As a flight sergeant he was awarded the D.F.M. in August, 1942, and received his commission three months later. His mother is Mrs L. Moore, of Taumarunui. Outstanding Keenness. Squadron Leader Grant has completed many sorties -He has destroyed at least eight enemy aircraft. He has •shown outstanding keenness, a finefighting spirit, and a high devotion to duty. Provisionally accepted for a short service commission in the R.A.F., Squadron Leader Grant was transferred on application to the R.N.Z.A.F., for war service when the outbreak of war upset the scheme. After training as a pilot in New Zealand in 1940 he was-awarded the D.F.M. and was com missioned in November of that year. In September, 1942, he was promoted as acting-squadron leader and won the D.F.C. His next-of-kin is his sister, Miss V. Grant, of Auckland. Wing Commander Deere has destroyed 21 enemy aircraft. His exceptional qualities have played a large part in the success of formations he has led, and his fearlessness, tenacity, and great devotion to duty have been an inspiration to all who have flown with him. Wing Commander Deere, who will be 2G next December/ was born in Auckland, and educated at Westport and Wanganui. After leaving college he joined a Wanganui firm of solicitors as a law cleric. In 1937 he was accepted for a short service commission in the R.A.F. He was awarded the D.F.C. in June, 1940, and a bar to his D.F.C. in September the same year. He won the middleweight boxing championship of the Army, Navy and Air Force. His father is Mr T. J. Deere, of Wanganui.