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Aviation History
1942
1942 - 0788.PDF
c/TH, IQ42 S E R V I C enrtgf Sgt. Newi t, Fit. Sgt. Palmer, WO. Crump, Sgt. Wilson and W/O. Noden leaving Buckingham Palace alter receiving their decorations at an Investiture. skill and keenness ana he has destroyed at least three enemy aircraft. F/O. R. C. FUMEIITON, R.C.A.F. No. 89 Sqn.— One night in March. 1943, this officer engaged a Heinkel 111 during an enemy air raid over the Suez Canal Zone. Observing the enemy aircraft in the moonlight, F/O. Fumerton delivered a food burst and. although he was wounded and his air craft damaged by the enemy's "return fire, he con tinued the attack" and set the bomber ;on fire. Although the undercarriage of his aircraft, had been put out if action. F/O. Fumerton made a safe landing. The raiding aircraft descended on to the Bea, its ciew being captured. P/O. R. M. AHALT, H.O.A.F., No. 150 Sqn.—As captain of aircraft, this officer carried out two operational missions on successive nighlsin March. 1942. In the face of heavy anti-aircraft fire he deliberately descended to a low altitude in ordet to identify the exact target which, on both occa sions, was successfully bombed. Throughout a long record of operational flying, this officer has displayed high courage, determination and efficiency. Sqn. Ldr.' S. G. STILLING, No. 205 Sqn.—On January-6th, 1942, whilst carrying nut an attack on an enemy target in the face of intense ground fire, Sqn. Ldr. Stilling's aircraft was damaged, the port oil tank being hit and one engine put out of action. In. spite of this he succeeded, with great skill and coolness, in bringing the aircraft safely back to base. Sqn. Ldr. Stilling has always displayed great courage and determination in carrying out his attacks. Fit. Lt. R. A. ATKINSON. R.A.F.O., No. 205 Sqn.—This officer has carried out many long-dis tance reconnaissance sorties, and on several occa sions he has successfully beaten off attacking enemy aircraft. One morning in December, 1941. Fit. Lt. Atkin son's flying boat was attacked by enemy aircraft when 300 miles N.E. of Singapore. ' The enemy were immediately engaged, but after a 15-rninute combat the flying boat's petrol tank was hit and The Soviet AmbassadopyfSecorating R.A.F (Left to right) : P/0.,6narlton Haw, Sqn. Ldj and Wing Cdr. Ramsbott«>m-Isherwood for their service in Russia. Miller, Sqn. Ldr. A. H. Rook eiving the Order of Lenin exploded; the aircraft caught fire and was forced to alight on the sea. The crew, of which two were wounded, were all suffering from burns. They were unable to launch the dinghy and had to iemain in the sea for six and a half hours before being rescued by a Dutch submarine. Throughout, Fit. Lt. Atkin son set an excellent example by his great steadi ness and rour^ge. Fit. Lt. A. D. PHILLIFS.—This officer has carried out numerous valuable long-distance re connaissances. These were often '-arried out in very had weather and, on several occasions, his aircraft has been attaeked-and damaged by enemy aircraft. Fit. Lt. Phillips has obtained much valuable information during his sorties and has always displayed great skill, courage and devotion to duty. Act. Fit. Lt. J. V. C. WVLLIE, No. 24 Sqn.— On the night of February 28th, 1942, when the enemy were attempting to land in Java, this officer carried out three low-level attacks in the iace of accurate anti-aircraft fire and succeeded in scoring a hit on a 6,000-ton enemy transport. Fit. Lt. Wyllie has always displayed great deter mination to. press home his attacks and has proved himself to be an inspiration to all F/O. A. G. DONAHUE, R.A.F.V.R.—This officer has carried out many low-level '"eoonnaissance;, sorties and has successiully attacked enem shipping and ground objectives. On one sion, whilst, carrying out an attack against enemy troops attempting a landing, F/O. Donahue silenced the enemy's fire, thus enabling the rest of the formation to press home their attacks with impunity. He has destroyed several enemy air craft. DISTINGUISHED FLYING MEDAL. Sgt. (now P/O.) C. B. WAREHAM, R.N.Z.A.F.— This airman has carried out many longdistance reconnaissance sorties, often in bad weather. He has obtained much valuable information of enemy targets, and has displayed great skill, keenness and courage. Fit.. Sgt. S. R. STIIEETER, NO. 23 Sqn.—This air man has been engaged on operational flying for the past two years. He has served with several squadrons and has participated in numerous missions over enemy and enemy occupied territory. Since joining his present squadron, Fit. Sgt. Streeter has carried out 21 sorties. He is an ex ceptionally efficient air observer and he has always shown the greatest keenness and determination throughout, his operational career. Sgt. S. G. WELSHMAN, R.A.A.F.—One night early in March. 1942, thi.- airman was engaged on a reconnaissance flight over the Benghazi area when he observed enemy fighters below him. Neverthe less, he decided to complete his mission. Whilst making his run over the harbour, his aircraft was damaged by anti-aircraft fire and then attacked by Messerscbmitt 109s. By skilful tactics. Sgt. Welsh man finally evaded hi3 attackers and eventually succeeded in flying his badly damaged aircraft safely back to his base. He secured valuable in formation. THE KING has been graciously pleased to approve the following awards; — BRITISH EMPIRE MEDAL (MILITARY DIVISION). Sgt. J. IRVINE, R N.Z.A.F.—One night in Novem ber. 1941. Sgt. Irvine was wireless operator air gunner in an aircraft which crashed on an airfield and burst into flames. Sgt. Irvine was catapu" through the roof and fell some distance On recovering from the shock, and realising that he was comparatively uninjured, he dashed to the burning aircraft, entered the cockpit, and extricated the pilot who was unconscious. Sgt Irvine's prompt and gallant action, in face of considerable risk and regardless of the shock he -had sustained in the crash, undoubtedly saved the life, of the pilot. In carrying out, the rescue Sgt. Irvine sustained severe bums on his hands and face. Cpl. J. TAYLOR, G M—One morning in January, 1942,.an- aircraft crashed, -(if I. Taylor, who \»v on duty in the vicinity, immediately went to the scene of the accident. Just before he reached the aircraft, it burst into flames and, although he was warned that the building on which the aircraft had crashed was a' hand grenade store, he unhesitatingly plunged into the flames in an attempt to rescue the crew. First, he extricated one member, whose clothes were.burning furiously; he then re-entered the wreckage and dragged out another - member. Borrowing another pair of gloves, his own having been burnt off. Cpl. Taylor, assisted by another airman, made further attempts to save the. re maining members of the crew, and succeeded in extricating two further bodies. By now his hands, feet and clothing were badly burned and he was in an exhausted condition, but. even so, it was with great difficulty that others prevented him from re-entering the burn ing aircraft ' Shortly afterwards he wag admitted-to sick quarters suffering from severe burns. Throughout. Cpl. Taylor displayed great gallanjiy and a complete disregard for his own safety, cpl- Taylor, G.M., was born in 1910, "at Aughnacloy, Tyrone, where his home still is. He was a cook before enlisting in June, 1940, as aircrafthand. He became a ground gunner. He won the George Medal in May, 1941, for bis efforts to rescue an airman from a crashed and burning aircraft. Cpl. Taylor was clad only in his football kit at the time. Cpl. R. B. WIIITTINGTON, R.A.A.F.—In Septem ber, 1941. an aircraft, when taking oH, crashed into another which was parked on the edge of field > llledi wayr*-
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