DANNEVIRKE PILOT

Grey River Argus, 22 July 1941, Page 7

DANNEVIRKE PILOT

GETS D.S.O. LONDON, July 20. Flying Officer David Leatham Prichard, R.A.F., of Dannevirke, has been awarded the D.S.O. The cita- j tion states: Prichard, on a’ night in June, carried out an attack against Cologne. While some distance from the target, and on the edge of a' dense belt of searchlights through which he had just flown his plane, Prichard’s plane was attacked by a fighter, which fired from close range a cannon shell, which damaged his engine, almost severing the airscrew blade, while the rear-gun turret was completely put out of action. Prichard, although forced to fly at reduced speed, with the subsequent loss of height, and all powers of defence gone, continued his mission, overcoming almost-insuperable difficulties before finally dropping his bombs on the target area. Prichard, despite a harassing return journey, skilfully flew back to the base, where he successfully crash-landed the plane without injury to the members of the crew. Prichard, on a previous occasion, while returning from Brest, displayed great skill, enabling his crew to shoot down an enemy fighter which was attacking his plane. Prichard, throughout numerous operational flights has displayed high courage, skill, and devotion to duty. DANNEVIRKE, July 21. Flying Officer Pricha'rd is the only son of Mr. and Mrs. P. T. Prichard, of Dannevirke, and is 24 years of age. He arrived in England two days before war was declared, having joined up with the R.A.F. under the four-year scheme in 1930. He received preliminary training in New Zealand. He served with a divebomber squadron in France from Christmas, 1939, until after the Dunkirk evacuation. Latterly, he has been attached to the New Zealand bember squadron. He was recently married, and has been taken off operational flights. AUSTRALIAN’S D.F.M. ~~RUGBY, July 20. The D.F.M. has been awarded to Leading Aircraftsman Milton Griffin, of No. 10 Squadron of the R.A.A.r. The official account says: In June, 1941 this airman was the first fitter of a Sunderland aircraft which, m the course of an operation, was attacked by an enemy Focke Wolfe aircraft. After the engagement, it was found that the Sunderland was losing large quantities of oil. Griffin crawled on to the wing, and discovered two large holes in the bottom of the oil tank. Returning to the hull, he obtained tools; plugs, and a two gallon drum of oil which he took into the wing, and, after plugging the holes and piercing the top of the on tank, he poured in the oil by means of a small tin, and maintained a continuous supply of oil. Griffin made four journeys into the wing, and in all spent two hours in nursing the engine, in intense heat and in a very cramped position. —8.0.W.