BRAVERY AWARDS

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20526, 9 April 1941, Page 11

BRAVERY AWARDS

TWO FIGHTER PILOTS 20 NAZIS BETWEEN THEM MANY ADVENTURES IN AIR LONDON, March 10. Two New Zealand fighter pilots, who have shot down over 20 Nazis between them and have both been shot down twice themselves, received the Distinguished Flying Cross from the King at Buckingham Palace. They are Flight-Lieutenant J. N. Mackenzie, Balclutha, a grandson of Sir Thomas Mackenzie, a former High Commissioner, and Pilot-Officer W. IT. Hodgson, Dunedin. Both had many adventures in the Battle of Britain last year. FlightLieutenant Mackenzie shot down one Nazi after he had chased him at treetop level for miles. Finally, the Nazi crashed in a wheat field. He sqt on a stook and waved to the New Zealand boy who waved back. Pilot-Officer Hodgson, who was shot down in Belgium and joined a refugee column, is now flying night fighters. These two pilots received their medals in company with four New Zealand bomber pilots, SquadronLeaders A. A. N. Ereckon, Auckland, T. Freeman, Dunedin, J. Adams and Flying-Officer D. McArthur, Christchurch. After leaving Buckingham Palace they were received at New Zealand House by the High Commissioner, Mr. W. J. Jordan.

Flight-Lieutenant Mackenzie too!: part in the intensive air fighting covering the Dunkirk operations, and the official citation stated that he had “at all times shown skill, courage and determination.” He has shot down nine “certainties,” four “probablds;" and has flso damaged many Nazi aircraft. He has been obliged to force-land twice. The first occasion was during Dunkirk. Early one morning his section of Spitfires intercepted a mass of Nazi bombers escorted by fighters. The New Zealander made for a formation of five. He got in a burst of fire at one, and then they swung round on his tail. He evaded them, but eventually another Nazi swept down on him out o£ the sun and put him out of action. The cockpit tilled with smoke and glycol. The cockpit hood would not slide back, and it was impossible to bale out. Fortunately, the aeroplane did not catch fire and a forced landing was made successfully. On the second occasion, FlightLieutenant Mackenzie attacked a Dornier, firing at its engines. The Nazi iear gunner, however, returned an accurate and concentrated fire and got in such a good burst that the New Zealander went down. Once again luck was with him and he landed safely.