FlightGlobal.com
Home
Premium
Archive
Video
Images
Forum
Atlas
Blogs
Jobs
Shop
RSS
Email Newsletters
You are in:
Home
Aviation History
1942
1942 - 0052.PDF
SERVICE AVIATION Grp. Capt. Broadhurst flew it safely back to this country. Since being awarded the Distinguished Service Order in June, he has destroyed eight and probably destroyed a further lour enemy aircraft, lie has set an example worthy of the highest tradition of the seivice. DISTINGUISHED FLYING CEOSS. Act. Wing Cdr. E. S. BARNES, R.A.F.V.R., No. 107 Squadron.—This officer has performed splendid work whilst commanding the squadron. Attacks en enemy shipping in the Benghazi and Tripoli areas have been attended with magnificent results and much of the success obtained can be attri buted to this officer's skill and courage. Wing Cdr. Barnes has also led attacks on road tiansports and various targets in Sicily and Italy whereby considerable damage has been inflicted on the enemy. His leadership and personal ex ample, especially during a difficult phase of opera tions, has had a most beneficial effect on the morale of his flying crews. Wing Cdr. Barnes has carried out 35 operational missions. Act. Fit. Lt. E. G. EDMUNDS, NO. 18 Squadron. —In November. 1941, Fit. Lt. Edmunds and Sgt. Hedin were the pilot and navigator respectively of an aircraft which carried out an attack on shipping east of Tripoli. In spite of extremely unfavourable flying conditions, Fit. Lt. Edmunds persisted in his mission and, ably assisted by Sgt, Hedin, who skilfully navigated the aircraft over 200 miles of the sea to the target, area, finally »Hanked and seated hits on a large vessel and an escorting destroyer. Two days later Fit. Lt. Edmunds, with Sgt. Hedin as navigator, led a low-flying attack on shipping in Navarino Bay. In spite of intense fire from the shore, several hits were scored on a 6,000-ton tanker which was set on fire. The skill and determination shown by Fit. Lt. Edmonds, combined with the skilful and accurate navigation displayed by Sgt. Hedin. were largely responsible for the success achieved. Lt. D. H. HlLLHOUSE, S.A.A.F., No. 12 Squad ron.— This officer has participated in active opera tions in East Africa and the Western Desert since June. 1940. He has taken part in 77 sorties, on 56 of which he has acted as air gunner and the remainder as bomb aimer, nis ability to bomb his target accurately has been exceptional, and has contributed materially to the successes achieved by his unit. Lt. Hillhousc has shown great courage. P/O. L- A. V'AUGHAN, R.A.F.V.R., No. 148 Sqnadron.—This officer air-gunner has participated in 54 raids, including 28 against targets in Ger many and German occupied territory. Through out, he has displayed the utmost keeness for operations which, together with his utter contempt for danger, has set a splendid example to all. On one occasion during a mine-laying mission. his aircraft was subjected to fire, at close range, £rom two antiaircraft gun3. By silencing these uns P/O. Vaughan performed very valuable work i difficult circumstances. - As a qualified gunnery jder, he carries out a great deal of the instruc tion of new crews, a work in which he has shown ability. I/O. M. P. WAHEHAM, R.A.F.V.R., No. 73 Squadron.—This „ officer has been engaged on Operational flying in the Western Desert for the pa* ten months. Throughout a difficult and Jons period, he showed remarkable keenness joperations whatever (he conditions or ths . | At one period he consistently operated with his finit from an exposed aerodrome at Tobrnk Stowing airmail for the Middle East aboard a flying boat. It is composed almt-.W% exclusively of Airgraph miniature films which means a saving of over 98 per cen%r•'• in weight as against ordinary mail. for several weeks. In a series of planned machine gun attacks on ground targets,* P/O. Wareham displayed exemplary coolness and initiative. He has destroyed at least three enemy aircraft off the Libyan coast. DISTINGUISHED FLUNG MEDAL. Sgt. S. E. HEDIN, No. 18 Squadron. For citation gee Fit. Lt. Edmunds in previous column. Sgt. F C ASTLEV, No. 615 Squadron.—This airman has carried out a large number of opera tional sorties, involving interception and convoy patrols. He has also participated in numerous highly successful attacks on enemy shipping, during which several enemy ships were set on fire and others damaged, and attacks on ground targets in Northern France. As a section leader for the past three months, Sgt. Astley has taken an active part in the training of new pilots, a task in which he has sbown great keenness and devotion to duty. Sgt. R B. BIRTLES, R.A F.V.R., No, 118 Squadron.—This airman has participated in a large number of sweeps and reconnaissances; he has also taken part in three attacks on enemy ship ping and four on land targets when tiains, fac tories and other objective imvg bean attacked. l!i November, 1941. during a soitie, Sgt. BiHles need a light anti-aircraft gun which was firing on his section leader. Some days later he partici pated in an attack on a rail way station in France. On the return journey one of his fellow-pilots was shot down into the sea. Sgt. Birtles, with great initiative, flew down to almost sea level, and while operating his aircraft controls with the right hand only, de tached his own dinghy and so skilfully manoeuvred his aircraft that he succeeded in dropping the dinghy within a few jfeet of his comrade, who was then Bwimming in the sea. Sgt, Birtles then flew on to his base, which he reached with very little petrol in the tanks. Sgt. R. C. FINN, RA.F.V.R, No. 615 Squadron.—This air man has participated in a large number of operational sorties, consisting of interception and convoy patrols In addition, he has taken part in 43 attacks on enemy shipping and ground targets in Northern France In the course of these attacks six ships, of various types, have been destroyed, two set on fire, and five damaged, whilst on land a transformer station and a factory were badly damaged. One of the first batch of W.A.A.F. flight mechanics doing a job of work on a Hurricane undercarriage. Sgt. Finn has carried out the duties of section leader for five months, displaying great keenness and devotion to duty. Sgt. P. G Louis, NO 615 Squadron—This airman has participated in over 100 opera tional sorties, including channel sweeps, convoy, and night patrols. Sgt. Louis has taken part in most of his unit's highly successful attacks on enemy shipping, wherein six ships of varions types and sizes have been destroved and others damaged. He has destroyed one Junkers 88 and probably a .Messerschmitt 109F. Throughout he has displayed great keenness and devotion lo duty. Act. Fit. Sgt. W. H. ROBINSON, NO. 7 Squadron. —In November, 1941, this airman was the flight engineer of an aircraft which participated in a daylight attack on shipping off Borkum. The aircraft was subjected to intense and accurate anti-aircraft fire, and sustained damage to the starboard outer engine oil system. Owing to the presence of eight enemy fighters, Fit. Sgt. Robinson manned his turret but fully realising the danger of the engine seizing, in structed another member of the crew to give him a commentary or, thf behaviour of the damaged engine. Skilfully dividing his atttnligg betwem hi« ginnery and engineering duties. Fit. Sgt. Robinson was able to keep the damaged engjr going until the engagement, was broken oil. During thr battle he shot down one ofj enemy aircraft in flames. Afterwards, whe.'i| port outboard engine also became unservici Fit. Sgt. Robinson carefully calculated the amount of fuel necessary to reach base, jettisoned as much as possible of the remainder, and so made it possible to return safely on two engines. This airman has participated in many successful opera tions, on one of which, although wounded, be carried out his duties fully and, until the airciaft was safely landed, he did not indicate that he had been wounded in the groin. Sgt. P. C. WHITWELL, NO. 7 Squadron.—This airman was the rear gunner of an aircraft which carried out a daylight attack on shipping oil Borkum. During the operation the aircraft v>»s attacked by a force of eight Messerschmitt I09i Displaying great coolness and accuracy of Bra, Sergeant Whitwell warded off the first four attacks and. in the next one, seriously damaged one ol the attackers, which was observed to dive steep!) away with the engine emitting black smoke. Three further attacks were made by the enemy aircraft, and. in the last one, Sgt. Whitwell scored a further success Following a well aimed irarcl bv him, one of the enemy aircraft turned ovei and dived vertically. On another occasion, when his aircraft was attacked by a Mc-sserschmit! 110, Sgt. Whitweil withheld his fire until the attacker had closed to a range of 50 yards, and then shot it down in flames This airman has displayed great ability, tenacity and courage. Sgt. H. R LEVEN, Sgt. M. J. NOLAN, Sgt. C A. EVANS, all of No. 107 Squadron.—As pilot, air observer and wireless operator-air gunner re-pec- tivelyf Sgts. Leven, Nolan and Evans have partici pated in numerous sorties in which enemy shipping has been attacked. Undismayed by the heavy defensive fire from armed escort ships, these air men have shown great courage and determiriatic*' to complete their allotted task. Sgts. Leven an< / Nolan have completed 34, and Sgt. Evans 27 oper- - tional missions.
Sign up to
Flight Digital Magazine
Flight Print Magazine
Airline Business Magazine
E-newsletters
RSS
Events
