AUSTRALIAN PILOT WINS VICTORIA CROSS

Auckland Star, Volume LXXII, Issue 171, 22 July 1941, Page 8

AUSTRALIAN PILOT WINS VICTORIA CROSS

ATTACK ON BREMEN

Objective Hit In Face Of Hail Of Fire British Official Wireless. Rec. 11 a.m. RUGBY, July 21. A hazardous operation in daylight "planned personally and with full knowledge of the risks entailed" gains the V.C. for an Australian airman, who had already won the D.F.C. for a successful operation. He Is Acting Wing-Commander H. I. Edwards, who, since serving as a cadet in the Royal Australian Air Force in 1935, has undertaken flying in several R.A.F. squadrons with distinction. The operation which gained WingCommander Edwards the V.C. is officially described as follows:—"On July 4 he led an important attack on 'he port of Bremen, cne of the ?iust heavily defended towns in Germany. This attack had to be mad/? in daylight and there were no clouds to aft'oid concealment. During the approach to the German coast several enemy ships were sighted ind he knew that his aircraft would »e reported and the defences would be in readiness. "Undaunted by this misfortune, he brought the formation more than 50 miles overland to the target, flying at a height of little more than 50 feet, passing under high tension rabies, carrying away telegraph wires and finally passing through a formidable balloon barrage. "On reaching Bremen he was met with a hail of fire, all his aircraft oeing hit and four being destroyed. Nevertheless, he made the most successful attack, and then, with the greatest skill and coolness, withdrew the surviving aircraft without further loss. If. is noted that Wing-Commander Edwards, although handicapped by physical disability resulting from a flying accident, has repeatedly displayed gallantry of high order in pressing home bombing attacks from a very low height lgainst strongly defended objectives." Wing-Commander Edwards gained the D.F.C. for an operation last nonth, during which he attacked a •lip in a convoy off the Dutch coast, eleasing his bombs from mast icight.