THREE MORE AWARDS

Evening Post, Volume CXXXI, Issue 31, 6 February 1941, Page 7

THREE MORE AWARDS

D.F.C. FOR NEW ZEALANDERS

TOTAL NOW FIFTY-FIVE

Three more New Zealand airmen serving 'with the Royal Air Force have been awarded Distinguished Flying Crosses, according to advice received yesterday by.Air Headquarters. They are: Acting Flight Lieutenant John James McKay, Nelson. Flying Officer Geordie Keith Larney. Hamilton. Flying Officer Kenneth William Tait, Wellington. These awards bring the total of Distinguished Flying Crosses awarded to New Zealanders to 55, including two with bar, and the total of all awards to 71 since the outbreak of war. Flight Lieutenant McKay was born in Nelson and is 24 years old. He was educated at Nelson College and was prominent in many branches, of sport, particularly football and cricket He was selected for a short service comt mission in the Royal Air Force in 1937. and left in the latter half of that year. He has served -with the Royal Air Force since. His next-of-kin is Major James George -McKay (father). Flying Officer Larney was born in Wellington and is 28 years old. He was educated at Hamilton Technical High School. He was a flying member of the Wellington Aero Club. He was trained by the Royal New Zealand Air Force and in the middle of 1939 was selected for a short service commission in the Royal Air Force. He has since then served with the Roya] Air Force His next-of-kin is Mr. C. B. Larney (father).

Flying Officer Tait was born in Wellington and is 22 years old. He was educated at Wellington College. In sport he was a member of the College first fifteen. He was selected for a short service commission in the Royal Air Force in 1937. and left New Zealand late in that year. His" next-of-kin is Mr. W. J. Tait (father).