AWARDS TO N.Z. PILOTS

Press, Volume LXXVIII, Issue 23744, 16 September 1942, Page 5

AWARDS TO N.Z. PILOTS

THREE MORE D.F.C/S (Special Correspondent N.Z.P.A.) LONDON, Sept. 14. Three more D.F.C.'s have been awarded to the New Zealand Spitfire Squadron —to Squadron Leader R. Grant, D.F.M.. of Auckland, the commanding officer, and Flight Lieutenants M. Shand, of Wellington, and R. W. Baker, of Dunedin, the squadron's I flight commanders. Mr T. A. Barrow, New Zealand Air Secretary, was among the first to congratulate them when he visited Spitfire and Hurricane night fighters the same evening as the awards were announced. Mr Barrow dined with Hurricane pilots—who incidentally will shortly be using a new night-fighter type, details of which have not yet been officially announced—when Squadron Leader Grant and Flight Lieutenants Shand and Baker were present. After dinner Mr Barrow met New Zealand sergeant pilots, wireless operators, and mechanics and was shown the operations room. He saw two New Zealanders take off on night patrol. The next morning he attended the Sunday church parade. Then he watched Spitfire pilots give a demonstration of formation flying. After lunch Pilot Officers M. R. D. Hume, of Wellington, and E. D. Mackie, of Auckland, gave a demonstration of aerobatics and also "shot up" the aerodrome, making I T r Barrow and the air crews duck instinctively as the Spitfires roared a few feet overhead at at least 300 miles an hour. Mr Barlow also met Wing Commanders P. G. Jameson and I. S. Smith, who have both won D.F.C.'s and bars. Mr Barrow said: "I have never see): a better crowd of young fellows together who seemed so little worried about the war. They are grand boys, all in first-class health and spirits."