HAZARDOUS ATTACKS

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 21755, 3 July 1945, Page 2

HAZARDOUS ATTACKS

BRAVERY IN PACIFIC U.S. AIR MEDAL WON iP.A.) WELLINGTON July 2. The United States Air Medal was presented to Flying Officer Donald ■James Fyfe, Christchurch, by the United States naval attache, Captain Lloyd Gray, U.S.N., yesterday afternoon.

The citation to the award, which Captain Gray read, stated that the medal had been -won by meritorious achievements ■ in aerial - fights as pnot of a torpedo-bomber attached co the R.N.Z.A.F. torpedo-bomber iquadron in action against the Japihese forces in the Bougainville and New Britain areas from March 25 lo May 22 last year. “Participating in extremely hazardous -strikes- against enemy airfields and supply installations 1 lymg-Olfieer Fyfe.- pressed home his attacks skilfully and- with 1 aggressive determination in‘the face of' heavy mti-aircraft fire, on one occasion ot>laining a direct hit- on an airfield runway, despite severe damage inflicted on ■ the tail section of his plane during the approach to the arget.” 1 the citation continued. “After completing the attack on Lukuani cn May 10, he was informed that another plane had crashed into the sea and, immediately returning to Simpson Harbouf in an effort to locate the wreckage and drop a rescue craft, he ‘ courageously circled the ven until the intensity of the antiaircraft fire forced him to withdraw. ■ i f .

Flying-Officer Fyfe’s expert airmanship inspired " his conduct and his fearless devotion to duty'throughout this period contributed' materially to the success of numerous vital missions.” i'b;

Flving-Officer Fyfe’s wife. Mrs. P. B. Fyfe resides in Christchurch.