Three Times In One List Of Decorations

Northern Advocate, 10 May 1940, Page 6

Three Times In One List Of Decorations

(Received 2 p.m.) LONDON, May 9. Lieut. E. W. Taylor, 25, of the Fleet Air Arm, who has been awarded the D.F.C. and a bar to the D.F.C., was mentioned in despatches. He is the first to appear three times in one list of decorations since the outbreak of war. Lieutenant Taylor was engaged in two flights off Bergen and elsewhere. Five awards have been made to airmen of the Royal Air Force engaged in the Norwegian operations, says a British Official Wireless message. The reference made in the House of Comomns by the Secretary of State for Air (Sir Samuel Hoare) to the exploits of British airmen in Norway, contained details gleaned from his own personal talks with pilots. Sir Samuel said that in the last fortnight a fighter squadron equipped with Gloster Gladiators was sent to Scandinavia. Only one frozen lake was found by reconnaissance parties to be suitable for a landing place. The surface was swept clear of snow and the necessary stores of petrol and munitions were provided. From Carrier to Lake As soon as it was ready, 18 pilots in the squadron flew their, aeroplanes from the deck of an aircraft-carrier a distance of 180 miles in a snowstorm, and landed on the lake at 10 p.m. The first German bombers appeared at 5.15 a.m. next day, and a battle ensued which continued until 8 p.m. The German High Command concentrated on the lake and something like 80 bombers were above it continuously for 15 hours. Most Out of Action Most of the British machines, after this gallant battle, were put out of action on the ground, but not one was brought down in the air. The King has conferred a number of decorations on members of this very gallant squadron. Five awards have been made to airmen of the Royal Air Force engaged in the Norwegian operations. Squadron-Leader J. W. Donaldson, upon whom has been conferred the D. 5.0., was leader of the squadron which shot down 14 German aeroplanes in one day in operations about Andalsnes. He comes from the Malay States.