AWARDS TO TWO AIRMEN

Southland Times, Issue 25703, 12 July 1943, Page 4

AWARDS TO TWO AIRMEN

FINE RECORDS OF SIX FAMILIES (P.A.) WELLINGTON, July 11. Details have been received by the Air Department, Wellington, of two awards announced last month, that of the Distinguished Service Order to Squadron Leader Colin Falkland Gray, D.F.C. and bar, R.A.F., formerly of Gisborne, and the Distinguished Flying Cross to Flying Officer James Menzies Smith, R.N.Z.A.F., of Te Awamutu. Besides telling the story of fighter and bomber operational flying they bring into prominence the fact that two or more sons of six New Zealand families have all received air awards overseas. Squadron Leader Gray’s D.S.O brings the total air awards held by the Gray family to five for two sons. Squadron Leader Gray received the D.F.C. as a pilot officer in October 1940, the bar to the cross as a Flight Lieutenant one year later, and his latest award as a squadron leader last month. His brother, the late Pilot Officer Kenneth Neil Gray, D.F.C., R.N.Z.A.F., received his D.F.C. in January 1940 and later he received the Czech War Cross. The citation to Squadron Leader Gray’s D.S.O. states that this officer is a first class fighter who, by his personal example, has fostered a fine fighting spirit in his squadron. In the North African operations he took part in many sorties destroying five enemy aircraft, thus bringing his total destruction to 21 enemy aircraft. His leadership has been inspiring. Bom in Christchurch in 1914, Squadron Leader Gray was educated at Christ’s College, Christchurch, Wellesley College, Wellington, and Napier Boys’ High School. In 1938 he was accepted for a short service commission in the Royal Air Force. In June last Flying Officer James Menzies Smith was awarded the D.F.C. Twelve months earlier, in June 1942, his brother, the late acting Flight Lieutenant Jack Menzies Smith,

R.N.ZA.F., received the D.F.M. He was then a flight sergeant. Flying Officer James Smith’s citation states that the majority of the numerous sorties in which he participated have been against very heavily defended targets. In adverse weather he has taken part in successful night raids on Danzig and Le Creusot. Throughout his operational career he has displayed a high degree of devotion to duty and quiet, efficient determination in pressing home his attacks with complete disregard for personal danger. Flying Officer Smith was born at Frankton in 1915 and educated at Te Awamutu District High School. He began R.N.Z.A.F. pilot training at the end of 1940 and was commissioned in 1942. He is two years older than his late brother Jack, and his mother is Mrs R. J. Smith, of Te Awamutu. Notable among the other four New Zealand families whose sons won air awards is that of Mrs L. Cowan, of Hastings, who has had three sons decorated. Those with two sons decorated by the Air Force are Dr and Mrs A. L. Singer, of Gisborne; Mr and Mrs A. C. Gawith, of Masterton; and Mr and Mrs E. J. Herrick, of Hastings.