FOUR AIRMEN HONOURED

Press, Volume LXXIX, Issue 24095, 3 November 1943, Page 2

FOUR AIRMEN HONOURED

D.S.O. TO NELSON PILOT THREE DISTINGUISHED FLYING CROSSES (P.A.) WELLINGTON. November 2. Four awards to New Zealand air personnel serving overseas are announced. They include the Distinguished Service Order to an officer who already holds the Distinguished Flying Cross. One of the three Distinguished Flying Crosses goes to an officer who won the Distinguished Flying Medal as an n.c.o. The recipients are;— Distinguished Service Order Acting-Wing Commander John James McKay, D.F.C., R.A.F. His father is Major J. G. McKay, of Nelson. Distinguished Flying Cross Flying Officer Allan Mason Fprbes Alexander, R.N.Z.A.F. His wife is Mrs M. W. Alexander, of Palmerston North. Pilot Officer Kenneth Atherton Crankshaw, D.F.M., R.N.Z.A.F. His father is Mr Crankshaw, of Greymouth. Pilot Officer Alexander William Lowe. His father is Mr W. T. Lowe, of Hastings. The citation says that outstanding determination and devotion to duty have been displayed by Pilot Officer Crankshaw in his participation in a very large number of sorties. During a night sortie against Berlin in August last his aircraft was attacked by a JU 88; Pilot Officer Crankshaw engaged his attacker skilfully and coolly, and his accurate shooting caused the enemy aircraft to dive away, apparently on fire. Pilot Officer Crankshaw has displayed courage and confidence, setting himself as an excellent example to his squadron. Born in Greymouth in 1921, Pilot Officer Crankshaw was educated at St. Andrew’s College, Christchurch, and the Greymouth Technical High School. Before the war he applied for entrance into the civil reserve of pilots and applied for service with the Royal New Zealand Air Force as soon as war broke out. As a flight, sergeant he was awarded the Distinguished Flying Medal at the end of last year. He was commissioned in May last.