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Aviation History
1941
1941 - 1983.PDF
AUGUST 28TH, 1941. FLIGHT. 135- ervice fwianon Royal Air Force and Fleet Air Arm. News and Announcements TARGET-TOWING : A Hawker Henley letting out a sleeve target for A.A. guns to shoot at. Similar targets are used for practising air firing, and there is also a special type which flies offset to the towing machine for use when trying out stern attacks. THE KING has been graciously pleased to ap-prove the following awards which iiave been made in recognition of gallantry displayed in fly-ing operations against the enemy : — DISTINGUISHED FLYING CROSS. P/0 W. 0. HABTOP, R.A.F.V.R. (with effect from March 24, 1941). Act. Fit. Lt. F. D. S. SCOTT-MALDEN,R.A.F.V.R., No. 603 Squadron.—This officer has been continuously engaged in operational flyingsince June, 1940, leading his flight and sometimes the squadron. During the laat six weeks he hastaken part in 38 offensive operations over enemy territory. A fine leader, Fit. Lt. Scott-Malden hasat all times displayed great keenness and deter- mination in his engagements with the enemy. Hehas destroyed three and damaged many of their aircraft. F/O. F. E. G- RASJTLEIGH, NO. 202 Squadron.—One evening in July, 1941, following a report that one of our aircraft had crashed on the FrenchMoroccan coast, F/O. Rashleigh took off to locate the aircraft and render assistance. Sighting thewrecked aircraft at Sidi Dilemie, he flew low over the spot three or four times, and observed fourgroups comprising some two hundred Arabs. While making another circuit, the three membersof the crew*- of the wrecked aircraft detached them- selves from the largest, group and commencedwaving. F/O. Rashleigh indicated that he would land near where they were standing—on the edgeof a small undulation. Coming to ground on the shallow side ol the rise, out of view of themajority of the Arabs, he finished his ran to within thirty yards of the crew, who immediatelydashed for the aircraft. The Arabs then opened fire and F/O. Rashleigh,with the' crew scrambling aboard, immediately turned the tail of his aircraft towards the hostileParty and opened the throttle, causing a cloud of dust, which obscured them from view. He thentook off safely and returned to base with the res- cued crew. This officer showed -great skill andinitiative throughout a daring exploit. P/0. H. S. SKWELL, R.A.F.V.R., No. 54 Sqn —This officer has participated in-most of the opera- tional sweeps carried out by the squadron. Hehas displayed great keenness to engage the enemy >M has destroyed at least four of their aircraft.^0. Sewell has set a very fine example. - DISTINGUISHED FLYING MEDAL. '8*194W»' WHITE deceased (with effect from Oct. 28, •Sgt; P. A. TANTON. NO. 15 Sqn.—In July thisairman was the captain of an aircraft which - Participated in a daylight attack on a factory atLlI«- ...On the approach to the target, the outer starboard engine of his aircraft was hit by anti-aircraft fire. Sgt. Tanton continued his run and aropped his bombs with the formation, but laternet-ame separated. When nearing the French coast « hi anton'5 aircraft was attacked by an enemy"inter who slightly wounded the rear gunner and coolly and skilfully, enabled his rear gunner to engage and shoot down the attacker. Sgt. Tanton then flew on to a home base, where he decided to land. With only the two port engines function- ing, the aircraft would not maintain flying speed with the undercarriage or flaps lowered, but, with exceptional skill and judgment, the under- carriage was put down a moment before impact with the ground and a remarkable landing was effected without further damage to the aircraft. This captain of aircraft displayed splendid skill and coolness throughout and was mainly respon- sible for the safe return of his aircraft and crew. THE KING has been graciouslyapprove the undermentioned recognition of gallant conduct. pleasedawards MILITARY MEDAL. Sgt. V. C. COBDBHV and Set. G. O. STAHKEY,AFVR (ii)I Ail Stan Set..—In Ap(g)p, 4, Cordery and Starkey were members of thecrew of an aircraft which, whilst at its moorings was attacked by a formation ofseven Junkers 87s flying in line astern. When the leading pilot dived to make a front gun attack,Sg£s. Cordery and Starkey coolly withheld their fire until the enemy was in close range andcontinued these tactics against the remainder, who attacked at short intervals. During the action,the aircraft was repeatedly hit about the wings, midship section and free gunner's position and onthe third attack the inner tanks caught fire and the aircraft rapidly became a mass of flames. Nevertheless, Sgts. Cordery and Starkey re-mained at their posts and kept up their fire daring the seven attacks and destroyed one of theenemy aircraft and hit others. It was not until further action .was impossible that Sgts. Corderyand Starkey left their posts. They were last to leave, and the aircraft sank five minutes later.Both airmen displayed great courage and devotion to duty throughout. Sgt. W. A. THYNNE and Sgt. E. W. H. ZIETHING.—In May, 1941, Sgts. Thynne and Ziething were, , respectively, air gunner and observer in an aircraftwhich carried out an attack on a -fort at Rutbah. After the attack Sgt. Thynne drew the attentionof his pilot to an aircraft burning on the ground. A figure waving was seen to be beside the aircraft. •The pilot landed alongside and Sgt. Ziething, who jumped out before the aircraft had completelystopped, went to rescue the survivor. . . Meanwhile, Sgt; Thynne went to the burningwreckage,- where Sgt. Ziething shortly joined him and, in the face of enemy .fire from armoured carsand despite ammunition exploding in all directions, both airmen searched the wreckage in an attemptto discover the remainder of the crew. Unable to find any traces of them, Sgts. Thynne and Ziethingreturned to their own aircraft, which flew off. with the rescued officer on board. Both theseairmen displayed great courage and complete disregard for their own safety. Cpl. G. E. BANFIELD.-^During the intensivebombardment prior to and during the enemy invasion of Crete, when telephone com-munication had been destroyed, Cpl. Banfield maintained contact by wireless telegraphybetween the station and operations room at HeraJtlion. For over three days he continued topass vital information, whilst working in a tent without protection from machine gun fire andbombing. Later, when the unit of some 50 R.A.F. personnel, mainly untrained in fighting, were cutat Heraklion and it cult or dangerous task. On two occasions he led8mall parties in outflanking enemy posts which were keeping the main body under fire, destroyingtheir posts and capturing prisoners. When the main body were unable to enter ourown lines, as our troops failed to recognise them, Cpl. Banfield was the first to volunteer for asmall party which succeeded in getting through and warning our troops of the approach of the Air Commandant K. J. Trefusis Forbes,Director of the W.A.A.F.
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