AWARDED D.S.O.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 85, Issue 170, 22 July 1941, Page 5

AWARDED D.S.O.

FLYING-OFFICER FROM DANNEVIRKE DISPLAYED COURAGE, SKILL AND DEVOTION London, July 20. A Royal Air Force flying officer, David Leatham Prichard, Dannevirke, has been awarded the D.S.O. The citation states: ’Flying-Officer Prichard on a night in June carried out an attack against Cologne. While some distance from the target and on the edge of a dense belt of searchlights through which he had just flown, his Ipane was attacked by a fighter, which fired from close range a cannon, which damaged his engine, almost severing the airscrew blade, while the rear-gun turret was put out of action.

"Flying-Ollicer Prichard, although forced to fly at reduced speed with subsequent loss of height and with all powers of defence gone, continued his mission, overcoming almost insuperable difficulties before finally dropping his bombs on the target area. Despite a harassing return journey fie skilfully crash-landed the plane without injury to members of the crew. "On a previous occasion, returning I from Brest, he showed great flying skill, enabling his crew to shoot down an enemy lighter which was attacking his plane. Flying-Officer Prichard throughout numerous operational flights has shown high courage, skill and devotion to duty.' Flying-Ollicer Prichard is the only son of Mr. and Mrs. P. T. Prichard, Dannevirke. Aged 24, he arrived in England two days before the war was declared, having joined the R.A.F. under the four-year scheme in 1930. He received his preliminary training in New Zealand and served with a dive-bomber squadron in France from Christmas. 1939, until after the Dunkirk evacuation. Latterly he has been attached to the New Zealand Bomber Squadron. He was recentlymarried and was taken off operational flights.—U.P.A.