FURTHER AWARDS

New Zealand Herald, Volume 81, Issue 24827, 25 February 1944, Page 2

FURTHER AWARDS

BKAYKIIY LN_THE AIR bar to FLYING CROSS (p.A.) WELLINGTON. Thursday Further awards to Now Zealand airmen have been announced bv His Kxeclleney the Governor-General, Sir Cyril Xevvall. Thcv are:Bar to Distinguished Flying Cross.— Squadron-I,eadcr M. Hcrriek, oi I last ings. Distinguished Flying Cross. — I 1 lightLieutenant Mortinier Tuke \ ander|iii in ji, i>l \\ ai roa . Distinguished Flying Medal.-—l'ilot-Ofiicer (tormerh II ight-.-.crgea nll Trevor Kdw anl Ganley. ol Kaipaki. Ohaupo; Fj'ght-Sergeaiit F.rnest Charles I.auric, of Auckland; Flight-Sergeant I'airick Andrew Til.vai.'d, ol Wellington.

The awards are for gallantry in actions against, .Japanese aircraft. in the Pacific Squadron-Leader Herriek won i 1,,. D.F.C. in the Battle of Britain in ]<HI). and Flight-Lieu! enant Winderpump holds the American D.F.C. ODDS DISREGARDED HUDSON'S KI'IC FK.HT COURAGEOUS LEADERSHIP (P.A.) WELLINGTON, Thursday Flight-Lieutenant Vanderpump was horn at Auckland and educated at St. Patrick's College. Wellington. The citation states:- -"Flight - Lieutenant Vanderpump took part in a fighter sweep over L'abaul, an operation which involved flying a single-engined fighter over lM() miles ol open sea. and on arrival engaging superior numbers ol the enemy over hostile territory, Disregarding the odds, he led his subsection in to the attack on a force of eight Zeros over their own airfield at a height of a few hundred feet.

"In this attack he accounted for one of thf enemy, sending him down in fl a mes. Fl ig h t-Lieutcna nt V a nderpinnp then observed the other member of his sub-section to be under close attack by one of a number of Zeros. He out- | manoeuvred and shot down the attackj ing Zero. He then found himself set ! upon by eight other enemy aircraft. | and was forced down to almost ground • level. He fought oil his attackers, all (the time keeping a look-out for his i companion-pilot, who, it is believed, | was shot down during this episode, j Failing to see his fellow-pilot, and I having exhausted his ammunition, he I broke for home, only to find a eneim | formation between him and his base. Over Rabaul Rooftops ! "I'ndtT attack the whole time, his ; aircraft was hit three times and considerably damaged. Skilful and audaj cious airmanship brought him out ol | this unfavourable 'position. This involved Hying over broken country at treetop height and over the heavily I defended base at Rabaul at rooftop level, lie was under continuous attack | until lie was well out io sea. but in spite of the damage done to his aircraft be returned safely. Flight-Lieu- | tenant Vanderpump's efforts to save | his comrade on this occasion showed extreme determination and titter disj regard for his own safety, as well as [exceptional flying ability." | l'ilot-Ollicer (ianley was educated at I the Otahuhu Technical High School. The citation stated that, as a lliglitsergeant. i'ilot-Olficer (ianley was an air-gunner in a Hudson engaged on patrol duty in the New (icorgia Shorthand area which wa- attacked by eight Zeros. Karly in the attack he wa< severely wounded in the hip and also received shrapnel wounds in the hand, arm and head. The lire-controller was also badly wounded, and I'ilot-OHicer (ianley took over the lire-control duties from his turret. Later, when his turret was untenable, ho maimed another gun position and carried on front there. In spite of his wounds and dilliculties caused by the damage done to the aircraft, I'ilot-Odieor (ianley directed accurate lire at the enemy and one Zero was sent down out of control. It was seen to crash into the sea. Aircraft on Fire The remaining seven Zeros pressed their attack closer, and bursts from the enemy's machine-guns set the New Zealand aircraft on lire. Members of the crew, including Pilot-Officer (lanley, fought the lire with extinguishers and succeeded in keeping it under control until the supply ol chemicals in the extinguishers was exhausted. The lire bla/.ed up again, and the aircraft's Captain was compelled to make a forced landing in the sea. Though wounded, I'ilot-((dicer (ianley coolly assisted fellow-members of the crew lo leave the aircraft, and also gave aid to one of the men more seriously injured than himself. All succeeded in getting clear of (he aireralt. but in the water they were repeatedly lired on by the enemy. Fveutually Ihe only man left was I'ilot-OHieer (lanley. lie managed to reach the shore ol an island. Living mainly on coconuts and tending his wounds as hesi be could, he kept himself going for 111 days. lie was then found by a party of friendly natives, who cared for him until his rescue was completed a month later by his friends. CO-OPERATION NEEDED EMPLOYERS AND WORKERS (P.A.) WKLMXCTOX, Thursday The democratic system had so far failed to break down the old feeling of mistrust between employer and employee, and between capital and labour, yet a spirit of mutual interest and cooperation must bi> engendered if the system was to operate edieicnlly and ensure progress, .said the president, Mr. \Y. li. (iritlin, iu his address at the annual meeting ol the New Zealand Society of Accountants, lie was hopeful that employee-partnership schemes and profit-sharing schemes, particularly the former, might become general, as he thought they might well lead to more stability, less friction, better production and greater prosperity.