AWARDS FOR N.Z. AIRMEN

Southland Times, Issue 25546, 14 December 1944, Page 4

AWARDS FOR N.Z. AIRMEN

TWO SOUTHLAND MEN INCLUDED (P.A.) WELLINGTON, December 13. Six immediate and 12 non-immediate awards to New Zealand airmen for outstanding service on operations overseas are announced in advice received by the Air Department from London. They include two Distinguished Service Orders to men who have already won the Distinguished Flying Cross. The citations have not yet been received. The awards are:— DISTINGUISHED SERVICE ORDER' Squadron Leader A. W. D. Cochrane, D.F.C., Rawene. (Immediate award.) . Squadron Leader J. A. Harrison, D.F.C., Dunedin. (Immediate award.) DISTINGUISHED FLYING CROSS Flight Lieutenant D. le Q. Badley, Taradale. (Immediate award.) Flying Officer K. G. Orman, Wellington. (Immediate award.) Flying Officer R. E. Le Long, Auckland. (Immediate award.) ‘ Flying Officer D. W. McKenzie, Auckland. (Immediate award.) Flying ■ Officer J. A. Pearce, Christchurch). Flying Officer G. H. Hewitt, Auckland. Flight Lieutenant Malcolm Robert Head, D. 5.0.; wife, Mrs N. E. Head, Wellington. Flight Lieutenant C. G. Washer, Hawera. Flying Officer J. W. Lennon, Whangarei. Flying Officer T. G. Wilson, Auckland. Flying Officer J. K. Aitken, Gisborne. Flying Officer D. E. Hawker, Christchurch. Flying Officer Norman James Grant; father, P. Grant, Nightcaps. Flying Officer E. Gibson, Wellington. Flying Officer T. H. Sinclair, Gisborne. Flying Officer A. D. Meyer, Hamilton. AIRMEN Flight Lieutenant Head’s Third Award Flight Lieutenant Head is a son of Mr and Mrs A. W. Head, of the Awarua wireless station. He was educated at the South School and the Southland Boys’ High School and later went to

Canterbury College, where he graduated as a Bachelor of Engineering with honours. He is at present the holder of a travelling scholarship in engineering granted by the University Senate. Flight Lieutenant Head went to Canada at the end of 1941 and gained his commission there before proceeding to England. He has been on numerous operations and on one occasion last year brought back to base his damaged bomber after the remainder of his crew had baled out when it was thought the aircraft was out of control. He managed to land the aircraft without further damage being suffered and his crew later turned up. He was mentioned in dispatches in June last year, and was awarded the Distinguished Service Order in April of this year. Flying Officer Grant is the elder son of Mr and Mrs Peter Grant, Nightcaps. He was educated at Nightcaps and at the Southland Boys’ High School. After leaving school he was employed in one of the coal-mines

Nightcaps with the object of gaining a mine manager’s ticket. Flying Officer Grant has been overseas for four years, and has been continuously attached to bomber squadrons as an observer. He has completed two tours of operations in Lancasters, including flights over the Swiss Alps to bomb targets in northern Italy. He was also in the first 1000-bomber raid on Cologne. Flying Officer Grant had a close call whep his bomber was struck by anti-aircraft fire over Essen. The big aircraft went into a dangerous spin and fell 15,000 feet before the pilot regained control. Although they came close to ground fire, the plane was not hit again and was brought safely back to its base. Flying Officer Grant took a prominent part in sport before joining the Air Force. He represented the Western District at Rugby and tennis, and is the present holder of the Nightcaps Golf Club’s championship.