N.Z. AIRMEN’S AWARDS

Grey River Argus, 27 February 1943, Page 1

N.Z. AIRMEN’S AWARDS

ALGIERS, February 24.

Three New Zealanders share six awards among members of the Kent County Auxiliary Squadron of Hudson Bombers, for their part in many successes in the greatest submarine hunt during the Mediterranean war. Theyi w-ere Squadron Leader Mick Ensor (Auckland), Squadron Leader lan C. Patterson (Christchurch), and Flight Lieutenant H. G. Holmes. (The announcement of the awards of the D.S.O. to Ensor and Patterson and D.F.C. to Holmes was made together with the citations by the Air Department at Wellington on February 18.) The other three airmen decorated were Sergeant H. Roe of England, who received the D.F.M., Squadron Leader J. B. Ensor of London, and Flight Lieutenant A. W. Barwood of London, both of whom are awarded the D.F.C. R.A.F. Headquarters announced that these six awards were made as the result of scores of attacks against Axis U-boats, in which the squadron sank at least six and damaged many more. The squadron, one day, had three definite kills. AL most the entire squadron on one casion. repeatedly attacking, drove a submarine near a beach, in Norji Africa, where American troops captured it.