AUSTRALIAN FLIER WINS V.C.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 17321, 22 May 1918, Page 10

AUSTRALIAN FLIER WINS V.C.

REMARKABLE HEROISM SHOWN. Victoria Cross has been awarded to Flight-lieu tenant Alan M'Leod (of Australia) to Flight-lieutenant Jerrarci. Lieutenant M'Leod was assailed bv eight enemy feriplanes, which divided in all directli°ViS'ifirmg frout . guns " lieutenant M'LeodV ski.fill manoeuvring enabled his observer. Lieutenant Hammond, to shoot down throe of tho enemy. lib continued to fight, though he reocivod five wounds, until a biylet penetrated his petrol tank and his aeroplane became aflame. Lieutenant M'Leod then climbed on to the left bottom plane, controlling the machine from tho side of tho fusilage, and, side-slipping steeply, he kept tho flames to one side', thus enabling Hammond to continue to fire until the ground jvas reached. Hammond had six wounds when tho machine crashed to the ground, and M'Leod, notwithstanding his own wounds, dragged Hammond from the burning wreckage amid a heavy machine gunfire from tho enemy lines. He was wounded by a bomb while engaged in the rescue, but ho persevered, and placed Hammond in comparative .saiety before ho himself fell from exhaustion and loss of blood. Lieutenant Jcrrard took part in a wonderful series of air fights, including a singlehanded attack upon 19 machines around an enemy aerodrome, where tho machines were landing or attempting to take off. Lieutenant Jcrrard, who was fighting only 50ft above ground, destroyed three German aeroplane?. As the enemy machines continued to rise from the aerodrome he attacked one after another, when tho British patrol loader ordered a retreat, Lieutenant .Terrard was still attacking fi ve enemy machines Though wounded, he turned repeatedly "and attacked the pursuing machines pintlehanded until eventually he was overwhelmed by numbers and driven to the wound. He had previously displayed bravery and ability of tho very highest order on four oosasiona, destroying enemy machines.