AWARDS FOR N.Z’ers.

Greymouth Evening Star, 1 November 1944, Page 8

AWARDS FOR N.Z’ers.

AIRMEN’S EXPLOITS.

WELLINGTON, October 30 The qualities of resourcefulness and leadership are emphasised in recent awards of the Distinguished Flying j Cross and Distinguished Flying Me- | dal respectively to two New Zealand aircraft captains, Flying Officer Wil- : liam Pembroke Bell, Takapau, and Pilot Officer Eldrid Duke O’Callaghan Dunedin. . The citations state that Flying Officer Bell captained an aircraft engaged in an operational mission. When close to the enemy coast the aircraft | was hit by anti-aircraft fire. The ■ rear gunner was wouhded and later , one engine became defective. “While out over the sea,” the citation continues, “two more engines became useless. Flying Officer Bell was compelled to bring the aircraft; down on; the sea. This he accomplished with i great skill. The creW got safely i aboard a dinghy from which they | were rescued by launch one and a- i half hours later. In these trying cir- ; cumstances Flying Officer Bell .displayed courage..and leadership, of ,a high degree.” Flying Officer Bell is 22 years of ase. His mother is. Mrs. M. I F H. Bell, - Havelock North, Pilot Officer O’Callaghan’s award resulted from a daring attack on Russelheim in August. “His aircraft was illuminated in a cone of searchlights and heavily attacked by enemy antiaircraft fire,” the citation states. “When taking violent evasive action both ailerons snapped. In spite of this Pilot Officer O’Callaghan flew back to his base where he effected a masterly landing. By his skill and re- I sourcefulness he undoubtedly saved a valuable aircraft and crew. He is a most keen and efficient captain.” Pilot Officer O’Callaghan is 24. His mother is Mrs. A. R. O’Callaghan, Duneimmediate award of the Distinguished Flying Cross has been made to Flying Officer Ronald Desmond Mayhill, of Auckland. Flying Officer Mayhill, whose mother is Mrs. Ft. G. Mayhill, Remuera, is 21. He joined the Air Force in July, 1942, after nine months as a member of the Air Training Corps. I The citation states that during a daylight attack on Pont Remy, the aircraft, of which Flying Officer Mayhill was bombardier, was hit by an-ti-aircraft fire during the bombing run. Flying Officer Mayhill was injured and temporarily blinded in one eye. but he insisted on the captain making a further bombing run, on ; which the target was successfully at- I tacked. He showed outstanding cour- I age and devotion to duty. The immediate award of the D.F.C. to Flying Officer Leslie Fulker isannounced by the Air Department. | The citation states: One night in. August this year Fulker piloted an; aircraft detailed to''attack Brunswick. On the outward flight his air- | craft was attacked by an enemy j fighter and sustained extensive dam- ; age and the mid-upper gunner was wounded, but in spite of this Fulker, flew 100 miles to execute the attack) on the target, and afterwards flew, the damaged aircraft back to the! base. In these harassing circum- 1 stances Fulker displayed inspiring i leadership, great skill and courage.; His mother is Mrs L. Fulker, of West Tamworth, New South Wales. He wasrecently posted missing in operations over Europe. 205 SHELL HOLES. LONDON, October 31. The British Air Ministry News Service-says: No fewer than 205 shell and splinter holes were made in a' Lancaster bomber piloted by Flying Officer R. J. Wisker, of Stockton, New ( Zealand, when he attacked an import- ; ant constructional site some weeks, ago. • Wisker has since been awarded the. D.F.C. He flew into heavy anti-air-craft fire when making his bombing! run. One shell burst immediately! under the starboard wing, causing the aircraft to go into a violent spiral dive. » Wisker struggled to regain control fori five thousand feet. Wisker at last levelled out the bomber, and, despite heavy flak and difficulty in handling I his aircraft, he bombed the target. I Although the starboard inner engine (ailed, he came to his base safely. I Wisker has now completed a tour of operations with a crew of six Englishmen. They flew in Bomber Command D Day raids and subsequent tactical attacks on the Caen battlefield.

D.S.C. FOR NAVAL OFFICER

WELLINGTON, Oct. 31

It is officially announced the King has approved the award of the Distinguished Service Cross to Temporary Sub-Lieutenant (A) Francis Bentick Heffer, R.N.Z.N.V.R., for good service in the bombardment of Sabang on July 25 last. Heffer was born at Wellington in November, 1919 and joined the Royal New Zealand Navy as naval airman Second Class for “hostilities only” in February 1942, and after undergoing training overseas with the Royal Navy was promoted to Temporary Acting-Sub-Lieutenant (A) in May, 1943. His civil occupation was farming, His father is H. E. Heffer of Waikanae.

NAVAL SERVICE (Recd. 10.45 a.m.) LONDON, Oct. 31. The High Commissioner (Mr. Jordan) to-day presented Captain Ralph Newman, D. 5.0., of Christchurch, with the Volunteer Officer’s Decoration, awarded for continued service in the R.N.Z.N.V.R. since January 1, 1923. Captain Newman, who is a senior New Zealand naval officer, was awarded the, D.S.O. in March, 1941 for courage and devotion to duty on the Channel convoys. Since that date, he had seen strenuous service in the Mediterranean with the Second Minesweeping Flotilla, which he has commanded with distinction.

A recent signal from Admiral Sir John Cunningham congratulated the flotilla oh “a job well done,” and added that its work had been watched with admiration. The flotilla, before paying off, had operated off Singapore, Malta, the Eastern Mediterranean, Tobruk, Greece, Crete, Tunisia and, more recently, the Gulf of Taranto and the east coast of Italy. It was one of the ships of Captain Newman’s flotilla which, while temporarily flying Admiral Cunningham’s flag, received the surrender of the Italian Fleet in Alexandria. Mr. Jordan congratulated Captain Newman on his fine work and wished him every good luck in the future.