GALLANT AIRMEN DECORATED

Southland Times, Issue 25482, 30 September 1944, Page 4

GALLANT AIRMEN DECORATED

INVERCARGILL PILOT RECEIVES D.F.M.

(P.A.) WELLINGTON, September 29. The Governor-General, Sir Cyril Newall, announced that th? King has approved of the following awards to personnel of the Royal New Zealand Air Force in recognition of gallantry and devotion to duty during air operations against the enemy in the South Pacific area:— k

DISTINGUISHED FLYING CROSS Squadion Leader T. J. M. de Lange; Auckland. Acting Squadron Leader H. N. James; Gisborne. Flight Lieutenant R. F. Hoyle; Auckland. , Flight Lieutenant H. C. Carter; Feuding. Acting Flight Lieutenant A. G. Stanley; Frankton Junction. DISTINGUISHED FLYING MEDAL

Flying Officer (formerly Flight Sergeant) I. M. Page; Wanganui. Flight Sergeant John Edwards; father, Mr J. Edwards, Invercargill. The King has also approved the award of the Military Medal to the following member of the ground staff in recognition of his gallantry and devotion to duty:— Corporal L. V. Yatps; Palmerston North. PILOT’S FINE EXAMPLE The citation of the award to Flight Sergeant Edwards states: “By his courage, determination and completely imperturbable conduct in face of heavy odds, Flight Sergeant Edwards has proved himself an outstanding noncommissioned fighter pilot. In three tours in the Pacific area he has undertaken 75 missions and flown 213 hours and has established himself as an exceedingly staunch and reliable member of his squadron. His achievements and notably his determination to press home attacks regardless of the personal risks involved have been a brilliant example to the other non-commissioned pilots. On his first tour, during a fierce attack which developed when enemy fighters in strength endeavoured to attack the Allied bombers under escort, Flight Sergeant Edwards withstood heavy punishment while continuing to give protection to the bombers and by skilful flying he brought his aircraft to base in spite of the severe damage it had suffered. Later he took part in early fighter sweeps on Rabaul and shared in the destruction of a Japanese aircraft. More recently he has again revealed an aggressive spirit in low-level fighteq bomber and ground strafing attacks against, enemy strongholds in the Rabaul area. In all these varied missions his personal courage and devotion to duty have been of the highest order.”