AIR HONOURS

Waikato Times, Volume 128, Issue 21336, 6 February 1941, Page 6

AIR HONOURS

FLYING CROSS AWARDS THREE NEW ZEALANDERS HAMILTON MAN INCLUDED (By Telegraph.—special to Times) WELLINGTON, Wednesday According to advice received by Air Headquarters this afternoon three more New Zealanders serving with the Royal Air Force have been awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross. They are:— Acting - Flight - Lieutenant John James McKay, of Nelson. Flyivig-Officer Geordie Keith Larney, of Hamilton. Flying-Officer Kenneth William Tait, of Wellington. These bring the total of Distinguished Flying Crosses awarded to New Zealanders to 55, including two with bar, and the total of all awards to 71 since the outbreak of war. Flight-Lieutenant McKay was bom in Nelson and is aged 24. He was educated at Nelson College and was prominent in many branches of sport, particularly football and cricket. He was selected for a short service commission in the Royal Air Force in 1937 and left in the later half of that yea?. Flying-Officer Larney, who is 28 years of age, was born in Wellington and received his secondary education at the Hamilton Technical High School where he took an electrical engineering course for about five years. Alter leaving Hamilton he studied radio work in Auckland and Wellington, before securing his “A” flying certificate. At Mangere he t was involved in a minor flying accident several years ago. He went to England on a short commission, but soon after his arrival there war was declared and he was ; posted to the New Zealand bombing squadron. An estimate of his bombing experience may be obtained from the fact that up till October 31 last year he had taken part in no fewer ! than 34 bombing raids over the Continent. Bom in Wellington. Flying-Officer Tait is 22. He was educated at Wel- ; lington College, being a member of the college first fifteen. He was se- ! lected for a short service commision jin the Royal Air Force hi 1937, and | left New Zealand late in that year. Courage and Devotion | In connecticn with the award of the ; Distinguished Flying Cross to New I Zealand members of the Royal Air Force, says a London cable message, the official citations say that FlightLieutenant McKay has completed 37 operational missions since the outbreak. of the war. These included operations over Germany, Italy, France, Norway and the low countries. He is exceptionally keen i'n his work as a heavy bomber pilot in the highest category, and his courage and determination in pressing home attacks regardless of opposition have been outstanding. Flying-Officer Larney has been ! continually employed on active oper- ; ations, at first as a pilot and later as captain of aircraft. Since beginning in 1940 he has participated in ; 30 major bombings over enemy and enemy-occupied territory, in addition to several other operational missions. He has always shown the greatest I determination in locating targets and ! pressing home attacks. He has i gained the complete confidence of his ; crew by his efficiency and devotion ! to dut>*. j Flying-Officer Tait last August led ; his section in an attack against a i large formation of enemy fighters and. j succeeded in destroying two. Flyingi Officer Tait has displayed exceptional ! courage and devotion to duty over a i long period in operations in France ; and England. He has destroyed at j least six enemy planes.