American D.F.C. Awarded to New Zealander

Manawatu Times, Volume 68, Issue 161, 9 July 1943, Page 5

American D.F.C. Awarded to New Zealander

FOR HEROISM • AND EXTRAORDINARY ACHIEVEMENT (Per Press Association.) AUCKLAND, July 8. The presentation of the American Distinguished Flying Cross awarded in May was made to Flight Lieutenant Robert Browning Watson, JS.N.Z.A.F., by Captain S. D. Jupp, senior United States naval officer in New Zealand, in a ceremony at a local air station. The decoration was the first of its kind to be awarded to a New Zealander in the South Pacific area. The official party included Air Commodore W. M. Buckley, Group Captain G. N. Roberts, station commanding officer, Commander E. V. Raines, U.S.N., Commander Edward Wilson and Lieutenant Commander Brooks Gifford, U.S.N.R., Squadron Leader J. N. Adams and Squadron Leader H. C. Walker. The parade was under the command of Squadron Leader J. 11. Grace.

The units were drawn up in a hollow square with Flight Lieutenant Watson and a guard of honour of the R.N.Z.A.F. and United States Marine Corps officers in the centre. The United States flag was flown during the ceremony. Tho bravery, skill and courage of the Royal New Zealand Air Force has written a chapter in the history oi which their country may be justly proud, said Captain Jupp, in making the award. “We as Americans are proud to be associated with and to hnvo fight i Q g by our side such men for the pro servation of liberty. We are now fight ing and working shoulder to shoulder with the men of New Zealand in many continents and islands of the Pacific. They in turn have seen that our own men have been fighting bravely to keou alive the ideals of a free mankind. The King of your great Empire had seen fit to decorate officers and men of tho United States Forces and we are pleased that at this time we can pay honour to the loyal and valiant men of the Alined Forces of New Zealand.”

The citation accompanying the award was as follows:—“For heroism and extraordinary achievement while par ticipating in an aerial flight as flight commander o. an K.N.Z.A.F. squau.oll serving under the command of the Marine Aircraft Group in combat against enemy Japanese forces at Guadalcanar. With great foresight and skill Flight Lieutenant Watson consistently carried out tho many and

varied patrols assigned to him. He led the first night oemoing yiid on Aiunua to be rnaue by his squadron and in spite of heavy antiaircraft fire and bad weather on the front he successfully .bombed the runway of that vital Japanese airport. A few days later while following hostile surface craft he was attacked by a flight of Zeros, but by his excellent airmanship and cool courage he finally escaped. His outstanding leadership and unyielding devotion to duty were an inspiration to his squadron aud contributed in a great measure to the success of our forces in that area. ”

night Lieutenant Watson, who is 32, was born in Auckland and educated at Wanganui College aud Cambiidge University, where he learned to fly. He was posted to the R.A.F. Reserve of Officcis on returning to New Zealand and was called up at the outbreak of war. From October to December he completed some 660 operational flights at Espiritu Santos and Guadalcanar before being posted to the New Zealand Pacific Ferry Command. His wife and two children live in Wellington. A brother, Mr. S. M. M. Watson, was killed while with No. 75 Bomber Squadron in England in 1940.

By special arrangement Reuter’s world service, in addition to other special compilation of oversea intelligence published in this issue, and all rights therein in Australia and New Zealand are reserved.