GALLANTRY MEDAL

Evening Post, Volume CXXXVIII, Issue 69, 19 September 1944, Page 6

GALLANTRY MEDAL

HEROISM OF PILOT

STAYED AT CONTROLS

"When an anti-aircraft shell exploded in the cockpit of his aircraft, Flight Sergeant D. J. Moriarty, of Wanganui, was severely injured about' the face and blinded in one eye, but in spite of the pain he insisted on remaining at the controls. In recognition of his gallat action, Flight Sergeant. Moriarty has been awarded the Conspicuous Gal-lantry-Medal. Particulars concerning the award have just been received by the Air Department.

"On a morning in July, j'944," the citation states, "Flight Sergeant Moriarty was captain of an aircraft detailed to attack an/objective in northern France. While'over the/ target area his aircraft was hit by an enemy antiaircraft shell which exploded in the cockpit. Flight Sergeant Moriarty was | severely injured about the face, being j completely blinded in one eye, which was' badlyaac,erated by flying .glass or shell fragments, and he also sustained a nasty scalp wound. ' "After receiving first' aid, he insisted on remaining at the control's. In., spite of. the distress he succeeded in flying the; aircraft safely home. Flight Sergeant Moriarty , has displayed courage/ fortitude, and determination of a high order." " Flight Sergeant Mpriarty is 23 years of age and joined the R.N.Z.A.F. in September, 1941. He was educated at the Wanganui Technical College. Before he enlisted in' the R.N.Z.A.F. he was employed by Johnston and Company, Ltd., Wanganui. His father is Mr. T. J. Moriarty, 28 Church Street, Wanganui. ■ ■ , fourlviore~d!f.c.'s Four more New Zealand airmen in the European'*war theatre have been awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross, according to advice cabled to Air Department. Citations to the awards have not yet been received. The recipients are:— Flight Lieutenant .Peter Francis Locker Hall. Canon A. F. Hall, The Vicarage, 34 Cobden Street, Gisborne

Flying Officer Sidney Frederick Parlato. Mr. E. F. Parlato, Marotini, Foxton (f.). ■• ■ ■

Pilot Officer Raymond Benjamin Ede. Mr. E. M. Ede, 30 Wellington Street, Ashburton (f.). Pilot Officer Alfred Edgar Nicklin Mrs. A. E. Nicklin, 1285 Great North Road, Point Chevalier, Auckland (w.). BAR~TO D.F.C. A Bar to the Distinguished Flying Cross has; been- awarded to Squadron Leader Dprek Harold Hammond, aged 28, of Christchurch, for his part in an attack dri an enemy convoy off the Norwegian coast, according to advice received; by Air Department. He received the Distinguished Flying Cross during the Libyan campaign in April, 1942, for rescuing two members of the crew of a crashed aircraft in the desert./

Squadron Leader Hammond was educated at St. Andrew's College, Christchurch, and prior to his enlistment in the R.N.Z.A.F. he was employed by the Bank of New Zealand at Kaikoura. His father is Mr. E. Hammond, 2G7 Clyde Road, Fendalton, Christchurch. -