AIRMEN DECORATED.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 64, Issue 60, 20 December 1943, Page 2

AIRMEN DECORATED.

SIXTEEN NEW ZEALANDERS

(P.A.) WELLINGTON, December IS.

Sterling' courage in pressing home attacks on the enemy, determination in the face of danger, and skill in handling their aircraft, combined with great ability in leadership, are the qualities which won the Distinguished Flying Cross and. Distinguished Flying Medal for New Zealand air personnel serving overseas who are listed in the most recent citations to awards notified to the Air Department, Wellington.

The recipients are (all it.N.Z.A.F. and all pilot officers unless otherwise stated): —

Distinguished Service Order. Squadron Leader John Milne Checketts, D.F.C. Father, Mr E. M. Checketts, Invercargill. Acting Flight Lieutenant John Leonard Wright, D.F.C. Mother, Mrs E. E. Wright, Frankton. Acting Flight Lieutenant Charles Wynne Brunsdon Kelly, D.F.C. Father, Mr J. C, Kelly, Christchurch.

Bar to Distinguished Flying Cross. Squadron Leader Huntley Gordon Holmes. Mother, Mrs G. Holmes, Tauranga. Distinguished Flying Cross. Squadron Leader Arthur William Mack. Father, Mr C. W. Mack,

Wellington. Acting Squadron Leader Nelson Reuben Mansfield. Father, Mr R. M. Mansfield, Christchurch. Pilot Officer William I-lenry Pilet. Wife ,Mrs M. N. Pilet, Marton. Pethick, Flying Officer Arthur Frank, R.A.F. (Details of next-of-kin not

held in New Zealand.) Robson, Thomas Andrew. Mother, Mrs R. H, Robson, Lincoln. Fisher, Allan. Father, Mr L. Fisher,

Taumarunui. Gall, John. Mother, Mrs Vickers,

Auckland. Findlay, David Walker, R.A.F. Brother, Mr R. ,T. Findlay, Green-

meadows. Petrie, John Russell. Father, Mr F. Petrie, Balclutha. Rhoades, John Richard. Wife, Mrs B. Rhoades, Wellington. Distinguished Fiying Medal. Dill, Trevor Gordon (formerly flight sergeant). Mother, Mrs D. B. Dill, Auckland. Hitchins, Flight Sergeant Lawrence William. Father, Mr H. Hitchins, Wellington.