GALLANT RECORD

Evening Post, Volume CXXX, Issue 39, 14 August 1940, Page 11

GALLANT RECORD

WANGANUI AIRMAN

WINNING OF D.F.C.

ESCAPE FROM FRANCE

Details of the exploits which gained the Distinguished Flying Cross for Flight Lieutenant Alan Christopher Deere, of Wanganui, have now been received in New Zealand and released by the Director of Publicity.

According to a London Gazette notice of June, 1940, his Majesty the King .was graciously pleased to approve the award of the Distinguished Flying Cross to Pilot Officer Deere (later promoted to flight lieutenant) in recognition of gallantry displayed in flying operations against the enemy. During May, 1940, it was stated, Flight Lieutenant Deere had, in company with his squadron, taken part in numerous offensive patrols over Northern France, and had been engaged, in seven combats, often against superior numbers of the enemy. In the course of these engagements he personally shot down five enemy aircraft and assisted in the destruction of others.

On one occasion, in company with a second aircraft, he escorted a trainer aircraft to Calais Marck aerodrome for the purpose of rescuing a squadron commander who had been shot down there. The trainer aircraft was attacked by twelve Messerschmitt 109 fighters whilst taking off at Calais, but Pilot Officer Deere, with the other pilot, immediately attacked with the result that three enemy aircraft were shot down, and a further three severely damaged.

"Throughout these engagements," it was stated, "this officer has displayed courage and determination in his attacks on the enemy."

Flight Lieutenant Deere had an exciting experience not long after this when his aircraft was shot down over Belgium. He landed safely by parachute—in territory occupied by the enemy. Making his way to a road, he held up a car with his revolver and then made a dash in the car for Dunkirk, where the great evacuation was soon to take place. He had to make his way through the spreading enemy front line, but despite some incidents on the journey he arrived safely at Dunkirk, where he embarked for England on a British destroyer. BOXING SUCCESSES. In addition to his fighting successes in the air, Flight Lieutenant Deere has won some notable victories in the boxing ring during his service career in the United Kingdom, and is the middleweght champion of the Army, Navy, and Ah\ Force. This interest in boxing goes back to his school days in New Zealand, where he won divisional championships, Territorial championships, and represented Wanganui in the New Zealand boxing championships of 1932-33. Flight Lieutenant Deere was born at Auckland and will celebrate his twenty-third birthday next December. His parents, Mr. and Mrs. T. J. Deere, live in Wanganui, where Flight Lieutenant Deere, after attending St. Canice's School, Westport, was educated at the Marist Brothers' School and the Wanganui Technical College. After leaving college he later entered a Wanganui firm of solicitors as a law clerk.; In 1937 he was accepted for training under the short-service commission scheme with the Royal Air Force, leaving for the United Kingdom later that year. He eventually became a fighter pilot* and has seen action in many of the main air engagements of the war.