AIRMEN OVERSEAS

Timaru Herald, Volume CLIII, Issue 22470, 4 January 1943, Page 4

AIRMEN OVERSEAS

Dominion Personnel

Decorations Awarded

(N.Z.P.A.) WELLINGTON, Jan. 2. Advice has been received by Air Headquarters, Wellington, that the following awards have been granted to New Zealand airmen serving overseas. All are members of the Royal New Zealand Air Force unless otherwise stated:—

Bar To Distinguished Flying Cross Flying Officer Roy Oldfield Calvert. Father, Mr G. Calvert. Cambridge.

Distinguished Flying Cross Acting Flight Lieutenant Roy Bramwell Spear. Father, Mr C. C. Spear, Christchurch. Pilot Officer John Leonard Wright. Mother, Mrs E. E. Wright, Frankton Junction Warrant Officer (now Pilot Officer) Maurice Damien Cullinane. Father, Mr D. Cullinane, Fordell.

Distinguished Flying Medal Flight Sergeant Kenneth Atherton Crankshaw. Fther, Mr T. Crankshaw, Greymouth. Flight Sergeant Thomas Alexander Stewart. Father, Mr L. Stewart, Dannevlrke.

Brief Biographies

Acting Flight Lieutenant R. B. Spear won outstanding successes in his participation in many operational sorties. During August of last year he pressed home an attack on a target in Mainz In the face of intense opposition. In the following month his aircraft was attacked by two hostile aeroplanes. He skilfully evaded them, and, in spite of the damage caused by the attackers, bombed his objective through heavy anti-aircraft fire and then safely returned to his base. Throughout his service he has displayed great determination, courage and leadership. He was bom in Christchurch in 1918 and education there. He entered the Royal New Zealand Air Force in 1941, and was promoted to his present rank during last year. Flight Sergeant K. A. Crankshaw has completed many operations sorties over very heavily defended areas in Germany. He always displayed great keenness to attack searchlight and gun positions. During one raid his skilful fire against enemy fighters and excellent instructions to his pilot contributed much to the safe return of the aircraft. His service career, with his constant cheerfulness, his example of courage and determination, has proved an Inspiration to all. He was born in Greymouth, and had his twenty-first birthday a few days ago. He was educated at Greymouth and Christchurch. and joined the R.N.Z.A.F. in 1940.