FLYING CROSSES AWARDED

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLVIII, Issue 21822, 27 November 1940, Page 4

FLYING CROSSES AWARDED

New Zealand Pilots Honoured Biographies Of The Men By Telegraph—Press Association WELLINGTON, November 26. Information concerning the latest awards of Distinguished Flying Crosses to six more New Zealanders was received by Air Headquarters to-day. The recipients are: Acting-Flight Lieutenant Cecil Dunn Milne, R.A.F., Auckland; Acting-Flight Lieutenant Frederick John Lucas, R.N.Z.A.F., Tuapeka Mouth, Otago; Flying Officer William Maxwell Nixon, R.A.F., Pukerau, Otago; Flying Officer Wilfred Maurice Chalk Williams, RJN.Z.A.F., Napier; Pilot Officer Donald Joseph Harkness, R.A.F., Midhirst, Taranaki; Pilot Officer Peter Wynn Mason West, R.A.F., Palmerston North. Flight Lieutenant Milne was educated at Seddon Memorial Technical College, Auckland, and is 24 years of age. He was nominated by the New Zealand Defence Department in 1931 for entry into the R.A.F. as an aircraft apprentice and in January, 1932, he entered No. 1 School of Technical Training, Halton, England, for a three years’ course. Flight Lieutenant Milne was awarded a cadetship and entered the Royal Air Force College, Cranwell, for training as a pilot officer. He took first prizes for the grand aggregate and for educational subjects and was awarded the Lord ’Wakefield Scholarship. He is married and his mother, Mrs F. Milne, lives in Papakura, Auckland. Consistently Good Work Flight Lieutenant Lucas was bom in Dunedin and is 25. He was educated at the Tuapeka Mouth School and at Otago Boys’ High School and spent some years farming. He joined the Otago Aero Club during this period and gained his A licence in 1935. In 1936 he felt for England to join the R.A.F. and last year he was selected for appointment to the R.N.Z.A.F. and for posting to a New Zealand squadron. According to the official citation Flight Lieutenant Lucas has, since the beginning of this year, completed 18 reconnaissance and pamphlet raids over Germany and 35 major bombing attacks on enemy and enemy occupied territory. His consistently good work has been marked by very definite devotion to duty and his capabilities as a captain of aircraft have produced excellent results. He has shown marked ability to find and bomb his primary target. Flight Lieutenant Lucas is married and has a young daughter. Flying Officer Nixon was bom in Auckland and is 27. He w’as educated at Gore High School and at Pukekohe Technical School. He joined the Royal New Zealand Air Force in 1934 in the ground staff section and in 1936 gained his flying A licence with the Canterbury Aero Club. In 1937 he resigned from the Royal New Zealand Air Force to go to England, where he was granted a short service commission with the Royal Air Force. He is married and his wife lives in Yorkshire, England. Flying Officer Williams is the son of the Rev. Canon W. C. Williams, Napier, and was serving with the Royal Air Force before the outreak of w r ar. About the middle of 1939 he was transferred to the Royal New Zealand Air Force for posting to a New Zealand squadron. Since the beginning of this year, states the official citation, Flying Officer Williams has completed reconnaissance and pamphlet raids over Germany and 30 major bombing attacks on enemy and enemy occupied territory. As a captain of aircraft he has carried out his duties with courage and high devotion to duty. Flying Officer Williams is married, his wife and son being in New Zealand. Pilot Officer Harkness was born in Midhirst and is 24. He was educated at Stratford Technical High School, matriculating in 1932. For a period he was engaged in clerical work and in 1937 he joined the Royal New Zealand Air Force clerical staff. He became a member of the Canterbury Aero Club and in 1938 he was selected for a short service commission in the Royal Air Force. His father is Mr G. P. Harkness, Midhirst, Taranaki. Pilot Officer West was born in Palmerston North and is 23. He was educated at Palmerston North Boys’ High School and Palmerston North Technical School, matriculating in 1934. After leaving school he W’as employed as a clerk by the Palmerston North Citv Council. He gained his pilot’s A licence w’ith the Middle Districts Aero Club in 1937, when he was also selected for a short service commission in the Royal Air Force. His father is Mr E. V. West, Palmerston North.