GALLANT AIRMEN

Dominion, Volume 33, Issue 182, 29 April 1940, Page 10

GALLANT AIRMEN

Four Awards Approved By The King ATTACKS ON ENEMY FORCES (British Oflicial Wireless.) RUGBY, April 26. The King has approved the following awards for “gallantry displayed in flying operations against the enemy”:— , Distinguished Flying Cross: Pilot Officer Al. G. Homer. Distinguished Flying Medal: Corporal John Wallace, Acting-Cor poral A. D. Coldicott and Flight Sergeant G. A. Powell.

Pilot Officer Homer was a pilot of an R.A.F. aircraft carrying out a iliglilevcl bombing attack on two enemy cruisers anchored in Kristiansaiid Bay, in south Norway. In the face of intense anti-aircraft fire and attacks by enemy fighters, be sucessfully pressed home his attack and ins airgunner shot down mi enemy lighter that burst into flames and crashed into the sea. Though his aircraft had been damaged. Pilot Ofiicer Homer skilfully piloted it back to his base after a sett crossing of more than 400 miles. Acting Corporal Coldicott was the wireless operator and air-gunner in Pilot Ofiicer Homer's aircraft during this engagement and lie shot down the enemy fighter. Corporal' Wallace was wireless operator ,md ’air-gunner in another R.A.F. aircraft engaged in au attack on enemy cruisers at Kristiansaiid. They were attacked by nine enemy fighters aud Corporal Wallace displayed the greatest gallantry and coolness in face of repeated attacks by superior numbers and shot down one of the enemy into the sort. Under wireless instructions from the formation-leader, Corporal Wallarce’s aircraft escorted another that had been disabled till the latter was forced to alight on the sea. Corporal Wallace’s accuracy in giving its position enabled a vessel to reach the scene and effect a rescue. Flight Sergeant Powell was captain of an It.A.F. aircraft taking part early in April in a low-flying attack on Stavanger Aerodrome. Tlii.s was pressed home with tlic greatest determination in the face of intense antiaircraft and machine-gun fire. The plane received three direct hits, the first of which wounded Sergeant Powell in the shoulder and letf side and severely damaged the machine. He immediately dived near to the ground and made his escape out to sea. Despite wounds and loss of blood and difficulty in controlling his damaged aircraft, Sergeant Powell succeeded in reaching his home base, a distance of 370 miles, in extremely bad weather at night.