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Aviation History
1941
1941 - 1729.PDF
JULY 31ST, 1941. f LIC HT ervice Royal Air Force and Fleet Air Arm News and Announcements tt).G. Awarded. THE KING has been graciously pleased to 0011fer the Victoria Cross on 4ct Wing Com mnnder Ilughie lclwal KD'VARDS, D.F.C., of Nu105 Squadron, in recognition of most conspicu eus bravery.The official citation reads : — Wing Cdr. Kdwards, although handicapped by aphysical disability resulting from a flying accident, has repeatedly displayed gallantry of the highestorder in pressing home bombing attacks from very low heights against strongly defended objectives.On July 4 he led an important attack on the Port of Bremen, one of the most hiavily defendedtowns in Germany. This attack had to be made in daylight, and there were no clouds to afford con-cealment. During the approach to the German coast several enemy ships were sighted, and WingCdr. Edwards knew that his aircraft would be reported and that the defences would be in a stateof readiness. Undaunted by this misfortune, he brought hisformation 50 miles overland to the target, flying at o height of little more than 50 feet, passingunder high tension cables, carrying away telegraph wires and finally passing through a formidableballoon barrage. On reaching Bremen he was met with a hail oi fire, all his aircraft being hit andfour of them being destroyed. Nevertheless, he made a most successful attack, and then with thegreatest skill and coolness withdrew the surviving aircraft without further loss. Throughout the execution of this operation,which he had planned personally with lull know- ledge of tbe risks r-mailrd. Win:j Car. Edwardsdisplayed the highest possible standard of gallantry and determination. • f'Wing Cdr. Edwards, 1>.C. THE KING has been graciously pleased toapprove the following awards for gallantryand devotion to duty in the execution of air operations : — DISTINGUISHTED SERVICE ORDER. Wing Commander G. A. WALTER.—No. 50 Act. Wing Cdr. S. T. MISSELBROOK.—No. 44. BAR TO THE DISTINGUISHED FLYING CROSS Fit Lt. P. R. BUETON-GYI.ES, D.F.C.—No. 207. DISTINGUISHED FLYING CROSS.Acting Wing Commander B. V. HOBINSON.—No. 78. Acting Wing Commander It. E. SHARP.—No. 214.Squadron Leader J. B. BLACK.—NO. 99. Act. Sqn. Mr. T. N. C. BURROUGH, R.A.F.V.R.- No. 50. Act. Sqn. Ldr. W. M. MORRIS, R.A.F.O.—NO. IS. OUT OF THE LAND OF EGYPT : Air Marshal Tedder, A.O.C. in C, Middle EastCommand, arriving by Lockheed Lodestar at an R.A.F. station in Palestine from ." - . Cairo. Acting Squadron Leader I. (;. RICHMOND.—.NO. 218.Flight Lieutenant J. H. L. BLOUNT. Fit. Lt. K. T. A. HARVEY. R.A.I .O—SO. 99. Act. Fit. Lt. D. T.. ARMITAOE, B.A.F.V.R.-No. 266. Act. Fit. Lt. J. II. FRANKS. R.A.F.V.R.-NO. 149.Acting Flight Lieutenant L. 10. GILES.—No. 115. Act. Fit. I.t. K. HUMBY, R.A.F.V.R.-NO. 10. Act. Fit. Tt. J. F. G. JENKINS, R.A.F.V.H.—No 18.Acting Flight Lieutenant J. It. RAINTORD.—No. 83. Acting Flight Lieutenant N. E. SHARP.—NO. 51. Flyiug Officer K. J. FOSTER, R.A.F.V.U.-NO. 51.Flying Officer H. J. HEAL.-NO. 10. Flying Officer E. B. RENDALL.—No. 50.Flying Officer N. 8. HOYLE R.A.F.V.R.—No. 83. Act. F/O. K. J. FALCONER, R.A.F.V R.~ NO. 214.Act, F/O. I. I). JEREMY, li.A.F.V.R.—NO. 305 (Pol.). Pilot Officer H. P. BIIA.NC-CER RA.F.V.R.—NO. 18.Flying Officer L. ( . BULL.—No. 109. Pilot Office. .1. DAWSON, R.A.F.V.R.—NO. 9.Pilot Officer P. DOBSON, R-A.F.V.R.-No. 102. Pilot Officer G. O. DOVE, R.A.F.V.I?.—No 144.Pilot Officer .1. H. I.ODER, R.A.F.V.1!.—No. 115. Pilot Officer A. PATERSON, R.A.F.V.R.—NO. 49.Pilot Officer G. G. PETTY.—No. 83. Pilot Officer G. It. SUIICII, R.N.Z.A.F.—No. 75 (New Zealand).Pilot Officer iVI. A. SMITH, R.A.F.V.I?,.—No. 44 Pilot, Officer n. M. SMITR, R.A.F.V,ll.-No. 40, DISTINGUISHED FLYING MEDAL. Flight Sergeant I. E. HANSON.—No. 50.Flight Seigeant S T. IIAEPHAM— NO. 83. Flight Serjeant G. P. JONES.—NO. 77.Flight Seraeant \V. MCCABE.—NO. 149. Flight Sergeant K. MCKENZIE.—No. 106.Flight Sergeant R. A. NEWTON.—No. 75 (N.Z.). Flight Sergeant .1. R. G. RALUTON.— NO. 107.Sergeant J. A. ARMOUR.—No. 50. Sergeant J. F. BECKETT, R.A.F.V.R— No. 49.Sergeant J H. BENTLEY.—No. 49. Sergeant B. C. COATES. R.A.F.V.R,—No. 58.Sergeant .1 W. CORKIELD.—No. 83. Sergeant P. W. K. CRISP.—No. 58.Sergeant A. D. W. Cran, R.A.F.V.R.—No. 82- Sergeant W. T. ELLIS.—No. 82.Sergeant R. J. FLUX.—No. 83. Sergeant T. H. GALLOWAY, R.A.F.V.R,—No. 106.Sergeant G. GASCOYNE.—No. 75 (New Zealand). Sergeant C. GIBSON R.A.F.V.R.—NO. 144.Sergeant R, A. GOOBE.—No. 21. Sergeant F. HAIOH.— NO. 75 (N.Z).Sergeant M. G. HARRIS, R.A.F.V.R.-NO. 75 (N.Z.). Sergeant W. HIRST.—No. 49.Sergeant D. A. HOWARD, R.A.F.V.R.—NO. 106. Sergeant L. R. JOHNSON, R.A.F.V.R.—No. 10.Sergeant J. C. KESSON.—No. 77. Sergeant P. E. MERRALLS, R.A.F.V.R.—NO. 49.Sergeant .1 W. MIDDLETON—No. 77. Sergeant J. E. ROBBINS — NO. 40.Sergeant E. C. ROBERTS.—No. 50. Sergeant C. R. SpENCEit.—No. 77.Sergeant K. 8. STAMMERS, A.A.I'.—NO. 44. Sergeant F. STOTT. R.A.F.V.R.-Nb. 44. Sergeant J. W. TINDALL.—NO. 58.Sergeant I,. E. W WEBB R.A.F.V.R.—Wo. Sergeant G. WILSON, R.A.F.V It.—No. 107. Sergeant B. YEADON.— NO. 83. 21. THE KING has been graciously pleased to ap-prove the following awards: — GEORGE MEDAL. Sgt. G. H. ELLIS. R.A.A.F.—This airman wasthe observer in a Wirraway aircraft which clashed and burst into flames when the pilot failed lomake a successful forced landing necessitated by engine failure. The flames enveloped the wholeof the fuselage. Sgt. Kills escaped with » dis- located shoulder, abrasions to his face and armsand slight burns, but the pilot was trapped. In spite of his injuries, Sgt, Ellis re-entered theflaming aircraft, released the pilot and assisted him to escape. This most courageous act did not,unfortunately, save the pilot's life', and the addi- tional severe burns which Sgt. Ellis sustainedalmost proved fatal. Cpl. .1 W. DEACON, R.A.F.; Gar, l, UAGE. ii.A.—One evening in February, 1941, an aircraft crasher! into the side of a hill near an aerodromeand caught fire. Cpl. Deacon, Gnr. Gage and another soldier ran to the scene of the accidentand found one member of the crew on the main plane. They dragged this airman to safety. Thaairman then informed his rescuers that three other members of the crew remained in the aircraft.Deacon and his companions immediately returned to the burning aircraft and, despite the addeddanger from exploding cannon shells and small arms ammunition, they succeeded in dragging clearthe other members of the crew. Sgt. M. BELL. R.A.F.—One night in February,1941, an aircraft crashed and burst into flames. The pilot was found, with his clothing on fire,by Sgt. Bell, who dashed through the flames Jrorn the burning wreckage and, with his ownjacket, extinguished the flames from the pilot's clothing, which was soaked with petrol. Thisaction was performed in spite of the .further danger from constantly exploding cartridges. Sgt. Bellalso directed his team of orderlies and ambulances so well that the injured pilot was receiving atten-tion in hospital within 22 minutes from the time of the crash. Unfortunately the pilot subsequentlydied of his injuries. This is the second occasion Sgt. Bell has displayed great courage and efficiency.Previously his promptitude was responsible for saying one of the crew of a burning aircraft. AC.2 C. L. WIIEATLEY. R.A.F.—When an air-craft carrying a full load of bombs crashed, this airman, with the help of the fire picquet, triedvaliantly to prevent the fire from the port engine and petrol tank spreading to a large high explo-
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