N.Z. FLIERS DECORATED

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXX, Issue 21250, 12 November 1943, Page 4

N.Z. FLIERS DECORATED

GALLANTRY IN ACTION (P.A.) WELLINGTON, Nov. 12. Acting Wing-Commander Douglas Rivers Bagnall, D.F.C., a New Zealander serving in the Royal Air Force has been awarded the distinguished Service Order. His mother is Mrs. 1-1. Bagnall, of Auckland. The award is also announced in official advice received by the Air Department, Wellington, of the Distinguished Flying Cross to Flying Officer John Charles Kennedy Fabian. R.N.Z.A.F., formerly of Wellington. I-lis wife is Mrs. M. D. Fabian, of Wellington.' Wing-Commander Bagnall took part ir. a raid on the marshalling yards at an enemy railway centre one night last September and the citation pays a high tribute to his accurate bombing. “He proved himself a fine leader whose exceptional skill, courage and devotion to duty set an inspiring example,” the citation continues. “This has been reflected in the high morale of his squadron which has many notable successes to its credit. He has performed magnificent service.” Hamburg, Berlin and. industrial centres in the Ruhr are included in the wide range of targets which Flying Officer Fabian has attacked. “He has shown great skill as a navigator.” says his citation,” and his able work has played a large part in the success of many of his sorties. His determination and devotion to duty merit the highest praise.” Early in 1938 Wing Commander Bagnall, then a youth of 19 in the Land and Income Tax Department, Wellington, left New Zealand to enter the Royal Air Force on a short-ser-vice commission. The outbreak of war found him serving in Egypt and he was later employed on a bomber transport squadron engaged on night operations. Next lie joined a squadron which carried out some of the early raids on Tobruk and Benghazi. He took part in the operations in Greece. He was awarded the D.F.C. in May, 1942. and. up to that time, had carried out 30 raids. Wing-Comman-der Bagnall was born in Auckland and educated at King’s College. A double University blue in athletics and boxing. Flying Officer Fabkin practised as a barrister and solicitor for some years before joining the N.f.M.U. Insurance Company as a motor car claims assessor. He left that position to go into the army in 1940 and later transferred to' the R.N.Z.A.F.. being trained as an observer in New Zealand and Canada. He was commissioned in March this year. Flying Officer Fabian was born in Wellington in 1909 and educated at Wellington College and Victoria University College where he took the degree of LL.B,