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Aviation History
1917
1917 - 1162.PDF
NOTEM 8, HONOURS. Honours for R.N.A.S. IT was announced in the London Gazette of November 2nd that the King has been pleased to approve of the award of the following honours, decorations, and medals to "officers and men of the R.N.A.S. :— Distinguished Service Order.Flight Sub-Lieut. BERNARD ARTHUR SMART, R.N.A.S. Distinguished Service Cross. Flight Commander HAROLD AUSTEN BUSS, R.N.A.S.— _ For his services _on the occasion of a bombing raid on Bruges Docks on the night of September 2nd-3rd. 1017. when numerous direct hits on the docks, submarine shelters, and railway sidings on the quay were obtained. Act. Flight Commander STEARNE TIGHE EDWARDS, R.N.A.S. —In recognition of his services on the following occasions :— On September 3rd, 1917. with his flight he attacked a two- seater Aviatik. The enemy machine was observed to go down in a vertical nose-dive, and the enemy observer was seen to collapse in the cock-pit. On September 21st, 1917, he drove a two-seater enemy machine down out of control. On September 23rd, 1917, he attacked an Albatros scout, which crashed into the sea. On the same date he attacked three Albatros scouts. One got on the tail of another officer's machine at very close range, shooting him up very badly. Flight Commander Edwards attacked him from above, and the enemy machine turned on its back and went down in a vertical dive. He followed the enemy machine down to 8.000 ft., when its wings came off, and it fell to the ground. Act. Flight Commander HOWARD JOHN THOMAS SAINT, R.N.A.S.—For conspicuous bravery in attacking superior hostile formations of enemy aircraft. On September 21st, 1917, he, with three other machines, attacked five hostile scouts. After getting to close quarters with one of them, he .fired three bursts from his machine gun and drove it down completely out of control. On September 23rd, 1917, while leading a patrol of eight scouts, he attacked a hostile formation of ten machines. One of these he drove dowa, diving vertically, out of control. He has forced down other machines completely out of control, one of them in flames, and has also shown great courage in attacking enemy troops and aerodromes with machine-gun fire from very low altitudes. Flight Lieut. HAROLD SPENCER KERBY, R.N.A.S.—For the great courage and initiative shown by him on many occasions, notably on August 12th, 1917, when he attacked hostile machines returning from a raid on England. One hostile machine was driven down by him to the water, where it was observed to turn over. Flight Lieut. JOHN FLEMING JONES, R.N.A.S.—In recog- nition of his services on the night of August I5th-i6th, 1917, when, under adverse weather conditions, he dropped bombs on railway sidings at Ostend, causing a fire which continued to burn as long as it was under observation. ; Plight Lieut. ARTHUR FRANK BRANDON, R.N.A.S., (since killed).—For services on August 22nd, 1917, when he attacked single-handed an enemy formation returning from a raid on England, and brought down one of them in flames. As his aeroplane had been hit several times, he landed to change machines, and proceeded to attack again with a new one, making repeated attacks on individual machines, and pursuing the enemy formation over the North Sea .•"/ to the Belgian coast, where he made a final attack. Flight Lieut. RONALD ROSCOE THORNLEY, R.N.A.S.— ;„ For gallantry and skill in aerial combats, notably on the following occasions:—On June 16th, 1917, whilst on patrol, he attacked a two-seater Aviatik, which fell to the ground inside our lines. On August 15th, 1917, he attacked an Alba- tros scout and shot it down out of control. On August 19th, 1917, he attacked an Aviatik and drove it down out of control. On September nth, 1917, he engaged one of three enemy machines, firing about 50 rounds when quite close, apparently wounding the observer at once, and shortly afterwards the enemy machine fell out of control. Act. Flight Lieut. RICHARD PEARMAN MINIFIE, R.N.A.S.— , In recognition of his services on the following occasions:— On April 22nd, 1917, he destroyed two enemy scouts. On August 8th, 1917, he brought down an Albatros scout in flames. On September 16th, 1917, he destroyed an Albatros scout. On September 19th, 1917, he crashed an Albatros scout. In addition to the above-mentioned .combats, he has driven down numerous enemy machines out of control, and on Jaly 3rd, 1917, he attacked parties of troops on the road from a height of 200 ft. On August 19th, 1917, he attacked two enemy aerodromes, firing 450 rounds at the hangars from a height of 400 ft. On September 20th, 1917, he did excellent work in detecting and scattering troops massing for counter-attacks, flying at an extremely low altitude. Act. Flight Lieut, (now Flight Lieut.) ARTHUR ROY BROWN, R.N.A.S.—For the excellent work he has done on active service. On September 3rd, 1917, he attacked a two-seater Aviatik in company with his fligkt. The enemy machine was seen to dive down vertically, the enemy observer falling over on the side of the fuselage shot. On September 5th, 1917, in company with formation, he attacked an Albatros scout and two-seater, driving them *way from our lines. One macThine was observed to go dowa apparently out of\ control. On September 15th, 1917, whilst on patrol, he dived on two Aviatiks and three Albatros scouts, followed by his flight. He dived several times amd picked out one enemy scout, firing about 200 rounds, when the enemy machine went down out of control, spinning ou its back. On September 20th, 1917, whilst leading his flight, he dived on five Albatros scouts. Flight Lieut. Brovrn picked out one enemy machine and opened fire. One of his guns jambed, but he carried on with the other. The enemy machine went down out of control, and over on its back, and re- mained in that position for about 30 seconds, whilst Flight Lieut Brown continued firing until his other gun jambed. The enemy machine then disappeared in the clouds, still on its back. Another officer of the same patrol was later followed by four enemy machines, as he was separated from the formation. Both Flight Lieut. Brown's guns were jambed, but he dived on the enemy machines and drove them off, thus undoubtedly saving the pilot's life. Act. Flight Lieut, (now Flight Lieut.) DESMOND FITZGERALD FITZGIBBON, R.N.A.S.—For exceptional courage and deter- mination in leading offensive patrols agianst enemy forma- tions, although often outnumbered by them. On September 14th, 1917, he and his patrol of seven machines attacked a hostile formation of eight enemy scouts. In the combat that ensued, three hostile machines were brought down com- pletely out of control, one of these by Flight Lieut. Fitz- gibbon, while the patrol suffered no casualties. On Sep- tember 26th, 1917, he attacked with his patrol of eight machines 15 hostile scouts. He himself engaged four different machines, one after the other, finally driving one down completely out of control. Flight Sub-Lieut. CHARLES BEVERLEY SPROATT, R.N.A.S.— Carried out a bombing attack on Bruges Docks on September 4th, 1917, obtaining direct hits. He was subjected to heavy and accurate anti-aircraft fire, and his machine was shot about and radiator pierced. Flight Sub-Lieut. LEONARD WILLIAM ORMEROD, R.N.A.S., and Flight Sub-Lieut. JOHN SOUTHEY WRIGHT, R.N.A.S.-— In recognition of their services on September 5th, 1917, when they carried out a bombing attack on Bruges Docks, obtaining direct hits. Flight Sub-Lieut. WILLIAM ALLAN SCOTT, R.N.A.S.—In recognition of his services on the night of August 15th-16th, 1917, when, in spite of difficult conditions, he dropped bombs on Thourout railway station and sidings. He circled the objective for an hour at a height of 3,000 ft, dropping his bombs singly, and achieved good results. Observer Sub-Lieut. PAUL BREWSHER, R.N.A.S.—In recognition of his services on the night of August 15th-16th, 1917, when, with Flight Lieut, Jones, in spite of adverse weather conditions, he dropped bombs oa railway sidings at Ostend, causing a fire which continued to burn as long as it was under observation. . ;• ., Distinguished Service Medal. Leading Mech. R. W. BAGER, O.N. F2176; Act. Air- Mech. 1st Gr., H. G. LOVELOCK, O.N. J26402 (Po.); P.O. Mech. B. Hinkler, O.N. F311 (Ch.). The following officers and man have been mentioned in despatches :— Squadron Commander C. H. BUTLER, D.S.O., D.S.C., R.N.A.S.; Flight Sub-Lieut, (now Flight Lieut.) C. H. FitzHerbert, R.N.A.S.; Flight Sub-Lieut. M. A. Harker, R.N.A.S.; Flight Sub-Lieut. E. B. Drake, R.N.A.S.; P.O. (E) A. A. B. Cox, O.N. F17751. THE King has been pleased to approve of the award of the following honours to officer and man for services in action with enemy submarines :— Distinguished Service Cross. -J~- Right Lieut. T. H. NEWTON, R.N.A.S. , \ 1162
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