THE AIR WAR

Evening Post, Volume CXXXVI, Issue 8, 9 July 1943, Page 3

THE AIR WAR

NEW ZEALAND'S PART

TEN MORE AWARDS

New Zealanders' participation in practically every aspect of the snr war is well demonstrated in the citations accompanying1 ten awards recently made to members of the Dominion's air personnel serving overseas.

Telling a story of attacks on Tripoli and German and Italian targets, Üboat hunting, a clash with a Japanese night fighter, an army reconnaissance and tactical operation which resulted in a wounded pilot crash landing 70 miles from his base, and fine feats of air gunnery, the citations cover the activities of pilots, air gunners, air bombers, and navigators. Consisting of eight awards of the Distinguished Flying Cross and two Distinguished Flying Medals, the decorations are as follows:—

Distinguished Flying Cross.

Flight Lieutenant John L. Munro; Mrs. A. J. Munro, care Marshlands, Ormond, Gisborne (m). Acting Flight Lieutenant Guy L. R. Hey wood; Mrs. O. N. Heywood, 22 Craig Road, Milford, Auckland (m.). Flying Officer Sydney A H. Short; Mr. T. S. Short, Belmont Road, Paeroa (f). Flying Officer George A. Patrick; Mrs. A. M. Patrick, 74 Union Street, Dunedin (m.). Flying Officer Charles Fray Ormerod; Mr. O. B. Ormerod, Mangarara Station, Waimata Valley, Gisborne (f.). Flying Officer John Aitcheson Maguire; Mr. P. J. Maguire. care Post Office, Milton, Otago (f.). Pilot Officer John Mathers Bailey; Mr. W. J. Bailey, Enniskillen, County Fermanagh, Northern Ireland (b.). Flying Officer Lloyd A. Trigg; Mrs. N. B. Trigg, 358 Ferguson Street, Palmerston North (w.).

Distinguished Flying Medal.

Flight Sergeant Robert L. Sommerville; Mr. H. Sommerville, 10 Trinity Street, Auckland (f.). Sergeant William T. Gunn; Mrs. T. J. Gunn, 51 Mary Street, Invercargill (m.). .

"Flying Officer Trigg," states the citation accompanying his award, "has participated in many shipping reconnaissances and convoy escorts. In March last he was assigned to provide an anti-submarine escort to a convoy which was subjected to attacks byseveral U-boats. As he neared the convoy, Pilot Officer Trigg sighted an enemy submarine. Although in an unfavourable position, he made a vigorous attack on the enemy vessel, the attack proving very successful and effective. Two days later he sighted another U-boat, and, staging an immediate attack, exploded depth charges on its bow. During a fine operational career, Flying Officer Trigg has set a conspicuously good example by keenness to fly under all conditions." Until he entered the R.N.Z.A.F. for pilot training in 1941, Flying Officer Trigg was engaged first in farming and then in the sale of farm machinery. He was born at Houhora, Auckland, in 1914, and educated at the Whangarei High School. Commissioned in January of last year, he was promoted to his present rank in October last. '

thousands as the parade passed by. The verandahs, roors, ana windows on business premises were also vantage points for large numbers of people. It was really a splendid show. The section of the procession belonging to the Fighting Forces was as usual very impressive, and was also very complete. The public were introduced to something new in the way of mechanised equipment in the huge tank transporting trucks, and also to some of the lesser-known forms of equipment The U.S. Marine Corps provided a particularly business-like looking display of some of their mechanised equipment, and with the other sections of the Fighting Forces they brought home a touch of the grim business of war. The section devoted to the industrial war effort was outstanding. The Railway and Post and Telegraph Departments deserve particular mention. With those of the Ministry of Supply their floats were a highly-creditable feature. The E.P.S. organisation was out in force, and the less strenuous side of fire-watching received due notice also. The floats throughout were highly decorative, and every one of them, had an important message to tell. An attractive feature of the procession was the exhibition of some of the national dresses of the United Nations. It aroused admiring comment all along [the line. The various teams of interhouse girls, in their smart and colourful marching frocks, also lent a touch" of brightness to the scene. . The parade was headed by the Police Pipe Band, and other bands were stationed at suitable intervals throughout the procession. The salute was taken by the Minister of Finance (Mr. Nash) at Courtenay Place. At the base were members of the Cabinet and War Cabinet, representatives of the fighting ' and other officials. CARILLON RECITAL. Two half-hour recitals were heard from the National War Memorial Carillon today. Conditions were excellent for the big bells, on which were played by automatic player a number of national airs.