BRAVERY IN THE AIR

Camp News (Northern Command), Volume 1, Issue 29, 15 November 1940, Page 1

BRAVERY IN THE AIR

Awards To New Zealanders OFFICER AND SERGEANT , : •• ~—", . Two more awards have been received by New Zealanders serving with the Royal Air Force, bringing the total lo 47, not/ including the Bar to the Distinguished Flying Cross received by two New Zealand officers. The two latest awards go to Flying Officer William Hector Stratton, who receives the Distinguished Flying Cross, and to Sergeant Norman Jonathan Ingram, awarded the Distinguished Flying Medal. Flying Officer Stratton, D.F.C., was born in Hastings and is 24 years of age. For a period he was engaged in farming at Hawera, where he joined the Hawera branch of the Western Federated (North Island) Flying Club, gaining his A licence in 1935. Two years later, in 1937, he was selected for a short service commission with the Royal Air Force, and left for England, where he has since been serving with the R.A.F. Sergeant Ingram, D.F.M., was bora at Island Bay, Wellington, which is his home, and is not quite 22 years of age. He was educated at Wellington Boys' College and later entered a commercial office in Wellington. He left for England to join the Royal Air Force in 1938.

Earlier Awards. > No details are yet available col cerning the official citations, but the following particulars of four earlier awards have been received by Ait Headquarters, Wellington: — Flying Officer Brian John George Carbury, D.F.C. and Bar, Auckland: During operations on the north-east coast of Britain, Flying Officer Carbury led bis section in an attack on two enemy aircraft. Both were destroyed. From August . 28, 1940, to September 2, 1940, he was, with his squadron, almost continuously engaged against large enemy raids over Kent, and destroyed eight enemy aircraft. Five of these were shot down in three successive engagements in one day. Acting-Squadron Leader Aubrey Arthur Ninnis Breckon, D.F.C., Northcote, Auckland: This officer participated in 21 major bombing attacks on Germany, Holland. Belgium and France between early this year and September. He made a reconnaissance flight to the north of Narvik 'which lasted 14£ hours, and within three days made another to Trondheim which was of 9£ hours’ duration. Undeterred by enemy action or by bad weather, he is a reliable, persistent, longdistance pilot, who has shown himself to be cool and courageous and a very determined leader. Acting-Flight Lieutenant Francis Edwin Eustace, D.F.C., Nelson: Between March 1 and September, 1940, this officer, as captain of aircraft, has carried out 26 operational flights over enemy territory with conspicuous success and gallantry. He undertook some missions of a most arduous nature, which necessitated sea crossings of more than 800 miles. To his

fellow pilots he has consistently set an excellent example of resourcefulness and determination, pressing home h.S attacks with the utmost coolness often in the face of intense enemy ant - aircraft fire. He took part in a high level bombing attack on two cruisers anchored in Kristiansands Bay in April, 1940. Pilot Officer Michael James Kerrie? D.F.C., Hastings: During an interception patrol on the night of September 4, 1940, Pilot Officer Herrick sighted two enemy aircraft and destroyed thei i both. In his attack against the second aircraft he succeeded in closing t) within 30 yards, and it fell in pieces under his fire.