SUPERB COURAGE

Waikato Times, Volume 106, Issue 22690, 18 August 1945, Page 5

SUPERB COURAGE

VICTORIA CROSS AWARD AIRMAN’S GLORIOUS DEED TRAGEDY ENDS EXPLOIT (United Press Assn.— Bee. Tel. Copyright) (Received August 18, 11 a.m.) LONDON, Aug. 17 A posthumous Victoria Cron has been awarded to a Canadian-born airman, Squadron-Leader lan Bazalgette, who resided at New Malden, Surrey. He was a “master bomber'’ in the R.A.F. pathfinder force. The citation says that SquadronLeader Bazalgette’s squadron was detailed to mark an important target at Trossy St. Maximin on August 4, 1944. When nearing the target his Lancaster came under heavy antiaircraft fire. Both starboard engine* were put out of action and a serioua fire broke out in the fuselage. The starboard main plane bomb-aimer was badly wounded. Squadron-Leader Bazalgette knew that the deputy-master bomber had already been shot down and the success of the attack depended on him. The Lancaster after its bombs had been dropped dived out of control. Squadron-Leader Bazalgette regained control by expert airmanship. One of the port engines then failed and the main plane was a mass of flames. Squadron-Leader Bazalgette continued to fight to bring the aircraft and crew to safety. The mid-upper gunner was overcome by fumes. Squadron-Leader ' Bazalgette then ordered those of the crew able to leave the aircraft to bale out and he remained at the controls and attempted the almost hopeless task of crash-landing the Lancaster in an effort to save the gunner and bombaimer. Squadron-Leader Bazalgette with superb skill ar.d taking great care to avoid a small French village, brought the aircraft down safely. It then exploded and Squadron-Leader Bazalgette and his two comrades perished MR J. C. GREW RESIGNS UNDER-SECBETARY OF STATE MR DEAN ACHESON SUCCEEDS WASHINGTON, Aug. 17 President Truman announces the resignation of Mr J. C. Grew as Under-Secretary of State. Mr Dean Acheson succeeds him. Mr Grew’s resignation is the first significant move in what promises to be a drastic reorganisation of the State Department, says the HeraldTribune’s Washington correspondent. The appointment of Mr Acheson to serve immediately under Mr Byrnes came as a surprise. It was widely believed that his recent resignation from the Assistant Secretaryship was due to his desire to re-enter private business. Mr Acheson becomes a key man around whom Mr Byrnes appears to be on the point of making sweeping changes in the department’s personnel and organisation. In his letter of resignation Mr Grew pointed out that he had passed the retiring age. The correspondent says he believes he will be asked to serve in an advisory capacity with the United States military forces occupying Japan. BOMBING OF TRANSPORT ADMISSION BY JAPANESE NEW YORK, Aug. IS The Japanese sent a radio message to General MacArthur that their planes bombed “some 12 Allied transports off Shikkoku four hours before the Imperial cease fire order was issued.” The broadcast said the transports approached extremely near Kochi. The Japanese Air Force attacked, apparently causing some damage. It earnestly requested the Allies to refrain from approaching the islands of Japan proper until the cease fire orders were fully effected. The Allies have not confirmed the attack. ALLIED FLEET OFF JAPAN COMPOSITION ANNOUNCED GUAM, Aug. 16 The battleship Duke of York, carrying Admiral Sir Bruce Fraser, commander of the British Pacific Fleet, has joined British naval units with the Third Fleet off Japan. Admiral Nimitz disclosed that the Allied Fleet off Japan before the armistice consisted of British and American ships of the line, also many scores of supplementary craft. He named eight battleships, 16 aircraftcarriers, 19 cruisers and 62 destroyers, all American. The following British ships were mentioned: The battleship King George V.; the aircraft-carriers Formidable, Implacable, Victorious and Indefatigable; the cruisers Newfoundland, Achilles, Uganda, Gambia, Black Prince, Euiyalus, and the destroyers Grenville, Undaunted, Urchin, Undine, Urania, Ulysses, Quickmarch, Quiberon, Quality, Quadrant, Troubridge, Tenacious, Terpsichore, Teazer, Termagent, Wrangler and Wakeful. VIOLATION OF SURRENDER DEMOLITIONS IN BURMA (Received Aug. 18, 11 a.m.) LONDON, Aug. 17 Huge explosions in the Moulmein area indicate that the Japanese are carrying out demolitions in violation of the surrender terms says Reuter's Rangoon correspondent. Reports of unprovoked acts of aggression are still coming in to headquarters. A Spitfire flying low over Moulmein was fired on. Lord Mountbatten in an order of the day to South-East Asia forces warned his men. particularly the British, not to imagine that because the war was over they could all go home immediately. Occupation and/ other problems were even greater than in Germany because of the greater distances involved. Several hundred thousand Japanese over thousands of miles must be disarmed and disposed of and tens of thousands of Allied war prisoners and internees must be repatriated as soon as possible. Hundreds of thousands of square miles desolated by the Japanese must be taken over to prevent famine and disease. All these things must be taken over under military administration. It was impossible to estimate how long it would be before the civil Governments could take over. SUBMARINE SURRENDERS GERMAN CRAFT IN ARGENTINA (Received August 18, 1 p.m.) BUENOS AIRES. Aug 17 The German submarine U-9T7. with a complement of 32, surrendered to the Argentine authorities today. It is officially announced at Buckingham Palace that the King desires that next Sunday should be observed as a day of national thanksgiving.