BRAVERY AWARDS

Auckland Star, Volume LXXII, Issue 86, 12 April 1941, Page 6

BRAVERY AWARDS

RAIDS ON THE ENEMY.

COOLNESS OF N.Z. PILOTS. (T\A.l \VF.LT.IX<.TON". Friday. Further informal inn about the award of .Flying Crosses to Fly-ing-Officer Malcolm Hugh Macfarlane. formerly of C'hri-tchurch. and Flight - Lieutenant (Jraham Keese Magill. of 'J'e A roll a. lias now been received liv Air Headquarters, Wellington. The official citation states: —

Ono night in January Flying-Officer Marfarlane was captain of an aircraft detailed to attack a tar-rot at Hanover. The weather was bad and with early prospects of a climb through 0000 foef of cloud favourable to icing conditions. Soon after taking off tlu> wireless set l>coai»c inoperative, but Flying-Officer Macfarlaiie decided to continue. He successfully bombed (ho target and returned safely to his base without wireless aid. although visibility was poor and the cloud base at less than ">OO feet.

On a previous mission lie carried out a forced landing in the dark with only one engine, little damage being caused to the aircraft and none to tho erew. Flying-Officer Macfarlaiie has at all times shown the utmost coolness, courage and devotion to duty. Operations in Middle East. Flight-Lieutenant Magill has participated in the majority of squadron operations over Kritrca and Abyssinia during the past six months, both as formation leader and on individual day and night raids. His careful planning and execution of long raids in bad weather and over difficult country, often against strong opposition, have contributed materially to the successes obtained by his squadron. Ho has at all times displayed the utmost coolness and courage. Flying-Officer Macfarlaiie was born in Christehurch in 191G and educated at Christ's College. He was accepted for a short service commission in March. 10."!>, and after partial training at the Canterbury Aero Club went overseas shortly after the outbreak of war. His next-of-kin at the time of his enlistment was his father, Mr. A. M. Macfarlaiie. Leithfield. Canterbury.

Flight-Lieutenant Mapill was horn at Cambridge and is 20. He was educated at tlie To Aroha District High School, representing the school at cricket and Rugby. He travelled to England in 19:>»; ancl obtained a short service commission with the Kovji 1 Air Force. He has served with the force since .July. l!W<i. His father is Mr. I!. W. Magili, Te Aroha.