500 AIR AWARDS
DOMINION’S WAR RECORD GALLANTRY AND HEROISM (P.A.) WELLINGTON, Aug. 13. “The awards for gallantry and heroism in the air made to New Zealand air personnel serving overseas have this month risen to a total of 500,” said the Minister of Defence, Mr F. Jones, to-day. New Zealanders would, he was sure, share the pride he felt in, this remarkable total of awards. Not only had they been won by members of the R.N.Z.A.F., but also by New Zealanders serving in the R.A.F.
Besides being an outstanding tribute to the fighting mettle of our flying men, said the Minister, the total, which gave an average of over 10 awards per month, proved that our airmen were taking a large part in the war for freedom.
Some 460 individuals, he said, had won the 500 awards, showing that many had been doubly and trebly decorated, sometimes with two awards and a bar. The awards included all those available to airmen of the Empire, as well as the decorations of several of our allies. Among the former were one Victoria Cross, 24 bars to the D.F.C., 285 D.F.C.’s, one bar to the D.F.M., 119 D.F.M.’s, four George Medals, one Bar to the Air Force Cross, 29 Air Force Crosses, and four Air Force Medals. Many others had received British Empire honours, while well over 100 had been mentioned in despatches. The honours list of the R.N.Z.A.F. also included one American ' Distinguished Flying Cross, one fJnited States Air Medal, two awards of the Croix de Guerre, one Order of Lenin, two awards of the Order of the Crown of Jugoslavia, one White Eagle of Jugoslavia (first class), and one Czech War Cress.
The records, Mr Jones said, showed that the decorated members of the New Zealand Air Force came from every conceivable walk of life, but in one quality they were alike —that was determination to exercise courage, education, scientific training, and initiative in the fight for freedom against oppression.
Mr Jones extended his warmest congratulations to the recipients of the decorations, and to their parents and relatives.
Permanent link to this item
https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/ODT19430814.2.34
Bibliographic details
Otago Daily Times, Issue 25304, 14 August 1943, Page 4
Word Count
347500 AIR AWARDS Otago Daily Times, Issue 25304, 14 August 1943, Page 4
Using This Item
Allied Press Ltd is the copyright owner for the Otago Daily Times. You can reproduce in-copyright material from this newspaper for non-commercial use under a Creative Commons New Zealand BY-NC-SA licence. This newspaper is not available for commercial use without the consent of Allied Press Ltd. For advice on reproduction of out-of-copyright material from this newspaper, please refer to the Copyright guide.