AWARDS FOR BRAVERY

Dominion, Volume 38, Issue 20, 18 October 1944, Page 6

AWARDS FOR BRAVERY

Eleven More N.Z. Airmen Decorated SERVICES OVER EUROPE Eleven more New Zealand airmen serving in the European war theatre have received awards for gallantry. Two have been awarded a bar .to the Distinguished Flying Cross, eight receive the Distinguished Flying Cross and one the Distinguished Flying Aledai. The citations to the awards have not yet been received by the Air Department. The recipients are: Bar to Distinguished Flying Cross: Flight Lietuenant Wallis George Finlay (Air. N. J. Finlay. Woodlands Road, Katikati, father); Flight Lieutenant John George Grey (Air. W. R. Grey, Milburn, Otago, brother). Distinguished Flying Cross; ■ Flight Lieutenant Lionel • Alatthews Wilson (Mrs. E. Wilson. Port Levy, Lyttelton, mother) ; Flight Lieutenant Edward Sydney Henzel (Mr. E. B. Henzel, 77 Francis Avenue, Christchurch, N.I, father) ; Acting Flight Lietuenant Arnold Thane King (Airs. E. L. King, 55 Standen Street, Karori, Wellington, mother); Acting Flight Lieutenant Alervyn James Sparks (Air. J. J. Sparks, 28 Bannerman Road, Alorningside, Auckland, father); Flying Officer William Alexander Eraser, D.F.AI. (Air. W. Fraser, Tamaki House, Kohimarama Road, St. Heliers, Auckland, father): Flying Officer Colin Alexander Hynd (Airs. A. Hynd, 169 Elies Road, Invercargill, mother) t Pilot Officer Wallace Arthur Tong (Mrs. D. Tong, Waharoa, Rotorua Line, mother); Warrant Officer Frederick Edward Hall (Air. W. A. Hall, c/o Tatapouri Hotel, Gisborne, father).

Distinguished Flying Medal: Flight Sergeant Phillip Stanley Baker (Airs. Al. E. Baker, 18 Tawhiti Road, ' Hawera. wife).

COMPLETED THEIR JOB

Damaged Aircraft Return z Safely To Base

Two New ; Zealand airmen have independently received the Distinguished Flying Cross for similar feats of gallantry. They were both captains of bombers and even though their aircraft were damaged by the enemy, they flew on, bombed their targets and returned safely to base. One of the aircraft had 205 holes shot through it The recipients of the awards, particulars of which have just been received by the Air Department, are: —

Acting Flight Lieutenant Alaurice Johnston (Airs. Al. G. 'Johnston, 368 Hereford Street, Christchurch; mother). Acting Flying Officer Raoul John Wisker (Air. J. H. Wisker, Stockton Aline, Westport; father). “An outstanding captain of an aircraft, Flight Lieutenant Johnston has at all times displayed courage and determination to press home his attacks,” says the citation to his award. “On one occasion when detailed to attack Frederickshafen his aircraft was attacked by an enemy fighter before reaching the target. Slight damage was caused to the bomber, and at the same time an antiaircraft shell exploded beneath the aircraft, causing further damage. Undeterred, Flight Lieutenant Johnston continued his mission successfully. He has made very many sorties against such targets as Berlin, Essen, Duisberg and Stuttgart.” Flying Officer Wisker was the captain of an aircraft detailed to attack a flying bomb site near Linzelix. “On the bombing run,” the citation states, “his aircraft was repeatedly hit by anti-aircraft fire, one shell bursting immediately beneath the starboard wipg. This caused the aircraft to go into 'a violent spiral dive. He managed to regain control, and in spite of severe damage to his aircraft, made a second bombing run, thus executing a successful attack. He later discovered that the aircraft sustained 205 holes. Flying Officer Wisker has just completed a most successful tour of operations. Throughout he has proved himself to be a keen a_nd conscientious pilot.”

AWARDS TO TWO NAVAL OFFICERS

Information has been received by the Minister of Defence, Mr. Jones, from the Admiralty that His Alajesty the King has approved of the 'award of Mention iu Dispatches to Temporary Lieutenant (A) Allan Russell Burgham,' Royal New Zealand Naval Volunteer Reserve, for good service in the air defence of a convoy, and to Temporary Lieutenant Geoffrey James Plank, Royal New Zealand Naval Ateiuuteer Reserve, for good service with coastal forces in action with the enemy. At Government House, Wellington, yesterday, his Excellency the Governor-Geu-cral handed to Air. and Airs. K. AlcLeay, Napier, the Military Medal awarded to their son. the. late Sergeant Kenneth Andrew AlcLeay. Second New Zealand Expeditionary Force.