AWARDS TO NEW ZEALANDERS

Greymouth Evening Star, 9 May 1945, Page 4

AWARDS TO NEW ZEALANDERS

DISTINGUISHED FLYING CROSS WELLINGTON, May 8. The Distinguished Flying Cross has been awarded to three New Zealand airmen, according to advice received by the Air Department. The recipients are:—• Sheddan, Flying Officer Cornelius lames, Waihao Downs, South Canterbury. < Wood, Flying Officer John Henry' Thomas, Maropiu, Dargaville. Walsh, Warrant Officer William John, Ohaiawa.

POSTHUMOUS AWARD

WELLINGTON, May 8.

■ Even though his Mosquito aircraft was attacked by five Messerschmitt 109’s, and forced out of formation, Pilot Officer C. G. Baker, D.F.C., flew on with one engine to make an independent bombing run. Pilot Officer Balter was subsequently killed in action, and did not receive the award.

The citation says that after his bombs were seen to burst on the primary target, Pilot Officer Baker’s aircraft was burning fiercely, and a •rash landing had to be made. That was accomplished successfully, without injuiy to the pilot or crew. The occupants of the aircraft then aad to crawl for a quarter of a mile through a cornfield to evade capture, and later reached the British lines in face of shell fire from both Udes. They surmounted barbed wire entanglements, mines, and booby traps, and were able to furnish valuable information. The citation added shat Pilot Officer Baker always showid the greatest keenness and ability in all his work. After leaving base io attack the Comiso airfield in Sicily in July, 1943, nothing more was heard of Pilot Officer Baker. Born in Timaru in 1915, he received his secondary education at Wellington..

NAVAL OFFICER’S D.S.C

WELLINGTON, May 8.

Advice has been received from the Admiralty that the King has approved of the award of the D.S.C. to Temporary Lieutenant Cedric Joseph Wright (Hastings) R.N.Z.N.V.R. for courage and skill in coastal force actions in the Mediterranean in December 1944. Lt. Wright was born in Napier in 1918 and joined the R.N.Z.N. in 1941. He received promotion to his present rank in 1942.