AIR HONOURS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24525, 6 February 1941, Page 6

AIR HONOURS

THREE NEW ZEALANDERS FURTHER AWARDS OF D.F.C. TOTAL NOW FIFTY-FIVE (Per United Press. Association) WELLINGTON, Feb. (5. According to advice received by Air Headquarters this afternoon, three more New Zealanders serving with the Royal Air Force. have been awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross. "They are:— Acting Flight Lieutenant John James McKay, of Nelson. Flying Officer Geordie Keith Larney, of Hamilton. Flying Officer Kenneth William Tail. of Wellington. These awards bring the total ol Dis tinguished Flying Crosses won by New Zealanders to 55. including two with bar, and the total of all awards to 71 since the outbreak of war. Acting Flight Lieutenant McKay was born in Nelson, and is aged 24 years He was educated at Nelson College and was prominent in many branches of sport, particularly football and cricket. He was selected for a shortservice commission in the Royal Air Force in 1937. and left in the latter half of that year. Flying Officer Larney was born in Wellington and is aged 28 _ years. He was educated at the Hamilton Technical High School. He was a flying member of the Wellington Aero Club. He was trained by the Royal New Zealand Air Force, and in the middle of 1939 was selected for a short-service commission in the Royal Air Force. Flying Officer Tait was born in Wellington and is aged 22 years. He was educated at Wellington College. He was a member of the college first fifteen. He was selected for a shortservice commission in the , Royal Air Force in 1937 and left New Zealand late in that year. .