VICTORIA CROSS AWARDED

Press, Volume LXXIX, Issue 24095, 3 November 1943, Page 4

VICTORIA CROSS AWARDED

NEW ZEALAND FLYING OFFICER COURAGEOUS ATTACK ON SUBMARINE <P.A.) WELLINGTON. Nov. 2. The King has been graciously Pleased to confer the Victoria Cross on Flying Officer Lloyd Allan Trigg, D.F.C., of Houhora. North Auckland, a member of the R.N.Z.A.F. This was announced by the Minister of Defence (the Hon. F. Jones) to-day. Mr Jones added that he regretted to eay that as a result of the gallant action for which Flying Officer Trigg was awarded this high honour he was believed to have lost his life, together with four other gallant New Zealanders who were his crew. The citation accompanying the award states: “Flying Officer Trigg had given outstanding services on convoy escort and anti-submarine duties. He had completed 46 operational sorties and invariably displayed a skill and courage of a very high order.” The citation continues: “One day in August. 1943. Flying Officer Trigg undertook, as captain and pilot, a patrol in a Liberator bomber, although he had not previously made any operabonal sorties in that type of aircraft. After searching for eight hours, the Liberator sighted a surfaced U-boat. Flying Officer Trigg immediately prepared to attack. During the approach the aircraft received many hits from the submarine’s anti-aircraft guns and burst into flames, which quickly enveloped the tail. “The moment was critical. Flying Officer Trigg could have broken off the engagement and made a forced landing in the sea. but if he continued the attack the aircraft would present a no-deflection target to the deadly anti-aircraft fire, and every second spent in the air would increase the extent and intensity of the flames and diminish his chances of survival. There eould' have been no hesitation or doubt in his mind, for he maintained his course In spite of the already precarious condition of his aircraft, and executed a masterly attack. Attacked with Bombs “Skimming over the U-boat at less man 50 feet, with anti-aircraft fire entering his opened bomb-doors, Flyifcg Officer Trigg dropped his bombs •jte and round the U-boat, where they Exploded with devastating effect. A jjhort distance further on the Liberator dived into the sea with her gallant Captain and crew. The U-boat sank within 20 minutes. And some of her crew were picked up later in a rubber dinghy that had broken loose from the Liberator. "The Battle of the Atlantic has yielded many fine stories of air attacks On underwater craft, but Flying Officer Trigg’s exploit stands out as an epic of grim determination and high courage. His was the path of duty that leads to glory." concludes the citation. Regret of Government On behalf of the Government and people of New Zealand. Mr Jones conveyed the warmest congratulations to Mrs N. B. Trigg (Hamua) on the high honour won by her gallant husband and the deep regret that as a result of his bravery he had believedly sacrificed his life. The four other New Zealanders in the crew of the aircraft were Flying Officer I. Marinovich (Auckland!, Temporary Flight Sergeant T. J Soper (Takaka), Temporary Flight Sergeant A. G. Bennett-(Wellington), Temporary Flight Sergeant L. J Frost (Auckland), together with a Canadian and two members of the Royal Air Force. Born at Houhora Flying Officer Trigg was born at Houhora, North Auckland, on May 5, 1914, and was educated at Victoria Valley and Kaitaia Primary Schools and Whangarei High School. Football, running, and tennis were his main sports in his high school days, and he was a member of the Rugby first fifteen. Here, also, he passed his university entrance and training college entrance examinations. Leaving school, he took up farming, working in a number of. different, disr tricts to gain experience of laming, methods, and later farmingtrr-his-trwn account. He left this occupation in May. 1940. to become a machinery salesman and serviceman. Applying for enlistment in the R.N.Z.A.F. towards the end of 1940, he began training as a pilot in June, 1941, and was trained in New Zealand and Canada under the Empir. air training scheme. He was commissioned as a pilot officer in January. 1942. and left for Britain. He was promoted flying officer in October. 1942. In June this year he was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for conspicuous work on sea operations. The citation on that occasion, after detailing his exploits against T *-boats. said: “During the course of a fine operational career, this officer set a conspicuously good example of keenness to fly under all conditions.” Flying Officer Trigg has two sons, one 4j years and the other 3. His parents were the late Mr and Mrs F. A Trigg, who resided at Victoria Valley and Kaitaia. .He also has two brothers and one sister.