GALLANTRY IN AIR

New Zealand Herald, Volume 81, Issue 25051, 15 November 1944, Page 4

GALLANTRY IN AIR

MANY DECORATIONS AUCKLANDERS IN LIST ONE WINS BAR TO D.F.C. (P.A.) WELLINGTON, Tuesday Gallantry on air operations against the enemy is recognised in the award of 21 Distinguished Flying Crosses to Now Zealand airmen serving overseas. A bar to the D.F.C. has been awarded to Flight - Lieutenant Ivan Oswald Breckon, D.F.C., of Auckland. The Distinguished Flying Cross has been awarded to the following:— Flight-Lieutenant C. N. Gall, son of Mrs C. Gall, of Itangiriri. Flight-Lieutenant I. J. McNeil, of Tikitiki, Gisborne. Fliglit-Lieutenant D. G. Simpson, of Alexandra. Flight-Lieutenant A. It. Galbraith, son of Mr A. Galbraith, Frankton. Flight-Lieutenant J. It. Naysmith, of Wellington. Flight-Lieutenant F. C. Fox, of Napier. Acting-Flight-Lieutenant E. W. Garnett, of Patea.

Acting-Flight-Lieutenant T. S. Knapman, of New Plymouth. Acting-Flight-Lieutenant D. G. Goodwin, son of Mr G. Goodwin, of Auckland. Acting-Flight-Lieutenant E. C. W. Anderson, of Hastings. Flying-Officer J. J. O'Connor, of Cfaristchurch. . Flying-Officer C. M. Tapper, of Christen urch. „ Flying-Officer L. M. Petry, of Wellington- . , Flving-Officer T. H. I. Fleming, son of Mr T. J. Fleming, of Auckland. Flving-Officer G. M. Given, son of Mr C. Given, of Walton, Waikato. Flying-Officer J. D. Mouat, of Eastern Bush, Southland. FlyingiOfficer H. C. E. Thurston, of Wf.nganui.

Pilot-Officer J. H. F. Whyte, whose wife is Mrs K. Whyte, of Oamaru. Pilot-Officer E. J. Walker, whose wife is Mrs G. Walker, of Henderson. Pilot-Officer R. A. McFarlane, brother of Mrs M. Dow, of Ruawaro. Acting-Warrant-Officer S. N. Etridge, of Wellington.

Flight-Lieutenant Breckon is the rounger sou of Mr and Mrs A, IS. Breckon, of Northcote. His brother, "Wing-Commander A. N. N. Breckon, who is in command of the R.N.Z.A.IJ. station at Ashburton, won the Djstinguished Flying Cross earlier in tho war. Flight-Lieutenant Breckon is 28 and is now instructing in England after completing 100 operational raids in bombers. , , . XT „ After gaining his wings in J\ew Zealand. Flight-Lieutenant Breckon left for Britain in October, 1940, and was later posted to his brothers old squadron No 75 New Zealand Bomber Squadron', and took part in 30 operational raids over Germany, half of them as captain of his aircraft. He then spent some time instructing before returning to operations in Mosquitoes. In addition to his double awardl of the Distinguished Flying Cross, Flight-Lieuten-ant Breckon has been thrice mentioned in despatches.