FOUR FLYING CROSSES

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20573, 5 June 1941, Page 4

FOUR FLYING CROSSES

NEW ZEALAND PILOTS RECIPIENTS’ RECORDS (Per Press, Association.) WELLINGTON, this day! Advice has been received by Air Headquarters, Wellington, that four more New Zealanders have been awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross. They are:— Pilot-Officer Douglas Robert Bagnall, next-of-kin his mother, Mr£. I. A. Bagnall, Glasgow; Flying - Officer Ronald Edward Lewis, next-of-kin his mother, Mrs. L. W. Lewis, Wellington; Pilot-Officer Hayden Hugh James Miller, next-of-kin his father, Mr. H. A. Miller, Morrinsville; Pilot-Officer James Victor Verran, next-of-kin his mother, Mrs. J. Verran, Manunui. Pilot-Officer Bagnall was born at Palmerston North in 1910 and educated at Palmerston 1 North Boys’ High School. He was selected for a shortservice commission in July, 1939. Flying-Officer Lewis was born in Wellington in 1916 and educated at New Plymouth Boys’ High School, Wellington College and Victoria University College. He took a prominent interest in sport and, in addition to winning the heavyweight boxing championship at Wellington College he represented the North Island in university Rugby. He was selected for a short-service commission in 1938. Pilot-Officer Miller was born at Eureka in 1914 and educated at Morrinsville District High School and the Auckland University College. At. the college he won honours at Rugby, tennis, cricket, swimming, boxing and shooting, and represented Auckland at badminton. He was selected for a short-service commission in April, 1939.

Pilot-Officer Verran was born .at Waipawa in 1915 and educated at Taumarunui District High School. He was accepted for a short-service commission in June, 1939.