NEW ZEALAND AIRMEN

Dominion, Volume 37, Issue 249, 18 July 1944, Page 4

NEW ZEALAND AIRMEN

Awards Now Total Over 800

British anil Allied nations awards won by New Zealand airmen flying with the R.N.Z.A.F. and lhe R.A.F. now total more than 800. Of this total, 601 decorations have been awarded to members of the R.N.Z.A.F. In addition. 107 R.N.Z. A.F. personnel have been mentioned in dispatches and four have received commendations. • The list of decorations includes two victoria Cross winners, the late Flying Ollicer’L. A. Trigg, D.F.C., of North Auckland. and the late Sergeant J. A. M at’d, of M r angaiiui. A total of 45 Distinguished Service Orders have been awarded, together with one Bar lo the D. 5.0.. the latter being won by M'iii"- Commander J. F. Barron, D. 5.0., D.F.C. and D.F.M., of Otago, who has been reported missing. Four awards of the Conspicuous Gallantry Medal have been made to New Zealanders. and one of the Military Cross, this being held by Flight Lieutenant E. D, Crossley, whose wife lives at Hawera. Distinguished Flying Crosses earned by Dominion fliers number 471. Of these men, 41 have won a Bar to their award and one. Group Captain C. F. Gray, of Gisborne, has been awarded a second Bar. Groan Captain Gray also holds the D.S.O. A total of 160 Distinguished Flying Medals are also listed, with one Bar. won in 1942 by Elight Lieutenant. R. B. TlasseIvn. of Christchurch, who also holds the D.F.C., and is now a prisoner of war. Other awards include five George Medals, 43 Air Force Crosses (two with Bar), four Air Force Medals and 10 British Empire Medals. Fifteen American decorations have been awarded to Now Zealanders, mostly for service in the Pacific theatre. One Jigliter pilot. Squadron Leader M. T. I andernump. of M’airoa. has the unusual distinction of holding both the American and British D.F.C.’s. Twelve awards other than British and American have boon won by New Zealanders serving with the and R.A.F., comprising one Polis I irtute Militari, four Croix de Guerre (French), one Croix de Guerre (Belgian), one Order of Lenin, two Orders of tlie Crown of Yugoslavia, one M'hite Eagle of ugoslavia. one Czech M ar Cross and one Norwegian M’ar Cross.