AIR HONOURS

New Zealand Herald, Volume 80, Issue 24540, 24 March 1943, Page 2

AIR HONOURS

EIGHT NEW AWARDS NEW ZEALAND PERSONNEL (P.A.) WELLINGTON. Tuesday Fighting, bombing and mine-laying exploits in many theatres of the air war are mentioned in the citations accompanying five Distinguished Flying Crosses and three Distinguished Flying Medals awarded to New Zealand air personnel serving overseas. Official notification of the decorations has been received from London by the Air Department. The recipients are: — Distinguished Flying Cross.—FlightLientenant William Arthur Coleman Ball, R.N.Z.A.F., of Wellington; Flight-Lieutenant John Edwin Ashley Williams, R.A.F.; acting:Flight-Lieu-tenant James Arnold Harrison, R.N.Z. A.F., Dunedin; Flying-Officer Jack Colin Parker, R.N.Z.A.F., Motueka: Flying-Officer Lindsay Johnston Drummond, R.N.Z.A.F., Auckland. Distinguished Flying Medal. —FlightSergeant John David Monroe Herron, R.N.Z.A.F., Christchurch; Flight-Ser-geant William Leonard Harvey, R.N.Z. A.F., Green Island, Dunedin; FlightSergeant William John Muir Low Barclay, R.N.Z.A.F., Dunedin. Citations to Awards Citations to the awards are:— "Flight-Lieutenant Williams in September of last year led a squadron in an attack on a formation of Stukas, which had strong fighter escort. In the course of destroying two enemy machines Flight-Lieutenant Williams displayed great determination.

"On another occasion, while participating in a defensive patrol over Trigti Vapuzzo, his formation attacked an enemy formation. Flight-Lieutenant Williams singled out an enemy machine, and, after pursuing it to Tobruk, carried out its destruction. Throughout his career Flight-Lieutenant Williams has shown a fine fighting spirit, _ and has proved an inspiration to his fellowpilots. Devotion to Duty "Flying-Officer Drummond during his operational career has displayed great determination, skill and devotion to duty. During a night of February last this officer captained an aircraft detailed to carry out mine-laying operations close to shore. Although his machine was damaged and the crew wounded during the run in, FlvingOfficer Drummond held his machine on its course and laid the mines as planned: Eventually he successfully flew his damaged aircraft back to its base." Since winning his award FlyingOfficer L. J. Drummond has been promoted to the rank of flight-lieutenant. He is the husband of Mrs. Betty Drummond, formerly Miss Betty Coe, and! the son of Mrs. J. Drummond, of Marine Parade, Heme Bay, and the late Mr. J. Drummond, formerly headmaster of the Auckland Grammar School. Flight-Lieutenant Drummond was educated at the Auckland Grammar School and Auckland University College, where he Bachelor of Laws. He left for Britain in November, 1941, and has been flying Stirling bombers. A keen tennis and golf player, *he was employed in a city law office before his enlistment. ATJCKLANDER MENTIONED SKILL AGAINST SUBMARINES (P.A.) WELLINGTON. Tuesday Official advice has been received that Temporary Sub-Lieutenant Geoffrey Thomas Sandford Baylis, R.N.Z.N. V.R.. has been mentioned in despatches for skill in action, against enemy submarines. Sub-Lieutenant Bavlis' father is Mr. G. T. de Sandford Baylis, of Auckland. STABILISATION SCHEME EFFECT ON DAIRYING (0.C.) WHANGAREI, Tuesday Called primarily for the purpose of considering the effect of the stabilisation scheme on the dairy industry, the first Northland dairy conference for two years was held at Whangarei to-day. The meeting unanimously endorsed resolutions passed recently by the South Auckland Dairy Association supporting the principle of stabilisation, but asking that a Dominion dairy conference be held before agreeing to the proposal that existing levels of prices, wages and costs should form the basis. The chairman, Mr. E. S. Appleton, said it was desirable to examine the possibilities of the farmer being sidetracked again by a scheme which protected him in theory only. Before the | basic level of stabilisation was decided on the industry wanted a complete revision and consideration given to rises in costs Since the farmers' price was pegged four years ago the North Auckland average production per cow was 1881b., or 25 per cent below the basis on which the guaranteed price was fixed, commented Mr. H. I<. Guy. A resolution was passed asking that the Dairy Industry Council reinstate the 1938 committee, with the object of requesting it to relate its then findings to the conditions prevailing to-day. It urged that particular attention be paid to the lowered effective average production per cow, labour reward, climatic variation, disease incidence and the effect on maintenance of the lack of fertiliser, material and labour. TRAINED LABOUR NEEDED DAIRY FACTORIES' POSITION (0.C.) WHANGAREI, Tuesday Pointing out the lack of trained labour for dairy factories, the Northland Dairy Conference to-day decided to advise the Dairy Board of the serious position now existing and to recommend that a survey of the labour position should be made immediately by the board, in conjunction with the Government, for the purpose of making provision for the efficient carrying on of factories. LETTERS TO AIRMEN (P A.) . WELLINGTON. Tuesday The Air Department, Wellington, announces changes in addresses for correspondence to New Zealand air personnel serving in the United Kingdom and Canada. In future correspondence to New Zealand air personnel ia the United Kingdom should be addressed "Care of the New Zealand Army Base Post Office, 3-5 Agar Street, Strand, London, W.C.2," and not care of the High Commissioner for New Zealand, 415 Strand. The amended Canadian address is "Care of the Base Post Office, Royal Canadian Air Force Headquarters, Ottawa, Canada." Correspondence already posted to Britain and Canada will be delivered. As in the past, the official number and rank must, precede the surname and initials of the airman to whom a letter is addressed.