OTAGO AIRMAN AGAIN MISSING

Southland Times, Issue 24182, 19 July 1940, Page 6

OTAGO AIRMAN AGAIN MISSING

FLYING OFFICER VERNON Flying Officer J. E. Vernon, the Otago pilot who was mentioned in the recent list of awards to members of the Royal Air Force as a recipient of the Distinguished Flying Cross, has been twice reported as missing. On the first occasion he found his way back to the British lines in France on May 28, but the next week he was again posted as missing; since when no further word of him has been received. Flying Officer Vernon, who is a son of Mr and Mrs G. M. Vernon, of Skippers, and who is in his twenty-fifth year, described in a recent letter his adventures on the first occasion he met with ill-fortune. His plane was shot down and his two companions were captured. He managed, however, to escape to nearby woods before he was noticed by enemy soldiers and by devious ways eventually connected up with British forces. Born at Roxburgh, Flying Officer Vernon was educated at Coal Creek School, the Roxburgh District High School and the Otago Boys’ High School, where he matriculated. For some time after leaving school he worked at the Central Shotover gold mining claim, of which his father is manager. From there he went to Mr Neil Cook’s sawmill at Glenorchy, and after some experience of milling took a position in the Catlins district. In September 1937 he was awarded a scholarship training course in the Air Force, and trained at the Taieri and Wigram aerodromes. The following year he was sent to England, where he underwent further training at a number of centres. Soon after the outbreak of war he was posted to France as a member of the advance striking force. ■