AIR GUNNER DECORATED

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24594, 30 April 1941, Page 6

AIR GUNNER DECORATED

AWARDED THE D.F.C. (P A.) WELLINGTON, Apl. 29. Advice has been received by Air Headquarters. Wellington, that the Distinguished Flying Cross has been awarded to Acting Flying Officer William Davenport Brown. His father is MfW. R. Brown. 23 Gonville avenue, citation states: “One right in March. 1941, as the rear gunner of an aircraft returning from a bombing mission. Acting Flying Officer William Davenport Brown sighted a Messerschmitt 110 some 300 feet below his aircraft. Despite bad visibility he kept the enemy aircraft m sight. Alter a teyr minutes it climbed to the attack, but by excellent judgment and marksmanship Flying Officer Brown fired three short bursts and the. enemy fighter was seen to dive straight into the sea. On a previous occasion when he identified an approaching aircraft as hostile his instructions to his captain enabled him to manoeuvre his aircraft so that the , ensuing enemy fire went under the tail. Flying Officer Brown then used his fire to drive off the enemy aircraft, which left in a damaged condition.” . Flying Officer Brown was born at Wanganui in. 1918 and educated at -the Wanganui Technical College.