D.F.C. AWARDS

Grey River Argus, 23 July 1941, Page 9

D.F.C. AWARDS

FOR TWO NEW ZEALANDERS. WELLINGTON, July 22. Information has been received by Air Headquarters, Wellington, that Distinguished Flying Crosses have been awarded to Acting Squadron Leader lan Gordon R’chmond, and Pilot Officer George Ronald Simich. Richmond was born at Nelson in 1915, and in 1937 was accepted lor a short service commission with lhe R.A.F in England. His lather is Gordon Richmond, Takaka. Simich was boin at Auckland in 1916, and was selected for a short service commission in 1939. but commenced training with the Rova! NZA.F. in November. 1939. His father is M. E. Simich, Auckland

V.C. FOR AUSTRALIAN. 8.0.W. RUGBY, July 21. A hazardous operation in day.ight, “planned personal.;.'/, with full Knowledge of the risks entailed/' gains the VC. for an Australian airman, who has already won the D.F.C. lor a successful operat.on. He is Acting Wing Commar«dei H. I. Edwards, who since serving as a cadet in the RA.A.F since 1935, has undertaken flying in several R.A.F. squadrons with distinction.

The operation which gained Edwards the V.C. is officially described as follows: On July 4, he led an important attack on the port of Bremen, one of the most heavily defended towns in Germany. This attack had to be made in daylight, and there were no clouds to afford concealment During the approach to the German coast several enemy ships were sighted, and Edwards knew his aircraft would be reported and the defences would be- in readiness. Undaunted bv this misfortune, he brought the formation more than 50 milgs overland to (h P target, flying at a height of little more than 50 feet, passing under high tension cables, carrying awav telegraph wires and fina’lv passing through a formidable balloon barrage. On reaching Bremen, he was met with a hail of fire, all his aircraft being hit, rour being destroyed. Nevertbelers, he made a most successful attack, then with the greatest skill and c.noiness withdrew the surviving aircraft without! further loss. It is noted that Edwards, althougn handicapped bv a physical clisaoility resuitino- from a living acc’dent. has repeated'.v displayed gallantry of hmh order, in pressing home bombattacks from a very low height against stronglv defended objectives. Edwards gained the D.F.C. for an operation last month, during which he attacked a shin m convoy off th-. 1 Dutch coast, releasing h ! s bombs from mast height.

POSTED AS MISSING. AUCKLAND, Julv 22. Advice has been received bv Nurse Higginson of the Papakura mobilisation camp, that he only son, Sergeant Pilot Alfred James Higginson, aged 24, failed to return from an oderational flight with the New Zealand Bomber Squadron on July 18, and has been posted as missmg.