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Aviation History
1942
1942 - 1717.PDF
WK AUGUST IJTH, 194- nnactroa when our forces were withdrawine: Bengbsii. Displaying great energy he ha* i it OD every sortie. In April. 1942, a k was made against 20 Btukas by an equal number of fighters. Shortly is' he was the leader in an attack against 50 enemy fighters. He was reported miss-iiis operation, but returned later. His Lcnness, devotion to duty and masterly leader ship have contributed largely to the successes sliicli have been achieved. Wing Cdr. G. L. CBUICKSHANICS. SO. 9 .* deceased), awarded with effect from 18.8.41. "On the night of July 1st, 1941, this officer par-;ed in an attack on German warships at gre?t In the face of heavy anti-aircraft Wing Cdr. Cruickshanks pressed home his attack. A photograph which he obtained during the : shows bombs straddling the dry dock in which one of the battleships was berthed. He carried out many operational missions over Gcr- fiaey. His leadership and determination were utstanding. Sqn. l.dr. J. H. GRESWEIA, NO. 172 Sqn.— ft'nis captain of aircraft has at all times dis played high qualities of perseverance and enthu siasm in the performance of his duties. On one occasion he carried out a successful low level bombing attack on an enemy submarined Act. Son. Ldr. K. A. ALDRIDGE, NO. 53 Sqn. —This officer has participated in active operations since April. 1940. He served in France, where he was ininred as a result of enemy action. Follow ing Ids recovery, he served as an instructor, njoining the squadron, Sqn. Ldr. Aldridge mipleted a large number of sorties, includ-ight strikes against Brest and St. Naz&ire. in, 1941, he participated in an attack on a near St. Nazaire. Pressing home his %*h great courage, he succeeded in drop-^ Tjombs in the centre of the target. One „• The main chimneys disintegrated in the air. Fit. Lt. E. S. S. NASH, NO. 612 Sqn.—This lias displayed great skill and devotion to in the performance of his operational tasks. In April. 1942, in bad weather, he was flying ronvoy escort duty. His task was almost com pleted when he received a signal that one of the had lost contact with the convov. lie immediately undertook to search for the ship, knowing quite well that the additional (lying would prove a drain on his petrol .resources and •jeopardise his prospects of flying the aircraft safely to base. Despite this, he carried out his purpose, located the vessel and passed to its com mander information as to the bearing and posi 'inn nf the convoy. The weather had deteriorated considerably, but Fit. Lt. Nash flew On towards land and eventually landed safely at a strange airfield. Throughout, he displayed great determi nation. On another occasion, during un anti submarine sweep, he was wounded in the hand snd leg by enemy fire. His second pilot flew the aircraft back to base where, on arrival, Fit. Lt. -Nash, although suffering severe pain, took over the controls and made a safe landing in darkness. " Fit. Lt. D. K. A. WOBDSWOETH, No. 212 Sqn. I'lereased), awarded with effect from October 22nd, 1341.—This officer carried out many operational missions, involving sorties over Norway, France, snd in the Mediterranean zone. Throughout he showed continuous devotion to duty and courage, ffe destroyed one enemy aircraft, while he prob ably destroyed others during low flying attacks "n enemy bases. Act. Fit. Lt. D. A. BuCHAN, No. 59 Sqn (de ceased), awarded with effect from Sept. 5tu, 1941.—This officer carried out numerous opera tional missions. In July, 1941, he led a flight of nine Blenheims, escorted by fighte's, on a day-! i:t raid on the railway marshalling yards at Hi-!cbrouck. Hits were scored on the railway - and adjoining buildings. Much of the •access of this operation can be attributed to 'he caieful preparations made and tactics planned W Fit. Lt. Buchan before flight, together with bis fine leadership and initiative during the *'i@W~'• **e always displayed great dash and yjSSoiasm. and he commanded his flight with $*s^;ed success. Act. Fit. Lt. T. B. HERD, R.A.F.V R NO. 106 Son. (deceased), awarded with effect, from Oct. 25th, 1941.—This officer carried out numerous operations over enemy territory all of which wre characterised by a daring and resource merit ing the highest praise. He showed great deter mination to complete his allotted task, and many times, when hampered by poor visibility, spent more than an hour searching for his correct target; he often descended almost to ground level to machine-gun searchlights, PunposUs or ships. .Act. Fit. Lt. O. J. MACKENZIE, A.A.F.. No. 500 Sqn.—This officer has been engaged on operational flying since the war began. On one occasion he was captain and pilot of an aircraft engaged on ac anti-submarine patrol. A U-boat was ob served on the surface of the water some eight miles distant. Fit. Lt. Mackenzie skilfully ap proached his objective and, diving t-wards it, re leased his bombs across the forward part of the 0-boat from a low level. This wag followed by a machine-gun attack. The U-boat disappeared, •tern first, leaving a large pat'b of frothy, brown water. This officer has at ill times shown great courage, determination and elevation to duty. Act. Fit. Lt. N. M. MAYSAHD, No. 228 Sqn.— This officer has displayed great keenness for opera- fons. He has recently been appointed captain of aircraft and has organised his crew to a high standard of efficiency. He hfs displayed great perseverance in searching cut and attacking enemy submarines. These operations have re-fiectM great credit both on the captain and the •iremft's crew. •> A. F. H. TYE, R.N.Z.A.F., No. 269 Sqn.— officer has completed nis operational flying often in difficult weather. He is a skilful • arless pilot who has executed three deter- FLIGHT An American pilot in one of the Spitfires which the U.S. Army Air Force is operating with the R.A.F. mined attacks on U-boats. On one occasion he made a successful landing at night on returning from an operational flight although one engine of his aircraft had ceased to function. F/O. J. A. WHITECROSS, NO. 50 Sqn (deceased), awarded with,effect from Juh 27th, 1941. Act. F/O. B. G. McfvKR, 'R.O.A.r.. -No. 106 Sqn. (deceased), awarded with effect from Octo ber 25th, 1941. Fit. Lt. R. L. MCGRECOR, No. 298 Sqn.—In June 1942, whilst on recounaissance duties near Bir Hacheim, Fit. I.t. McGregor encountered four Me.l09's which attacked separately. Displaying skilful airmanship, he accepted the challenge of each aircraft in turn and destroyed one. His own aircraft sustained severe damage. With the re maining three enemy fighters still pursuing him, he flew towards El Adem, where his aircraft crashed in flames. Fit. Lt. McGregor was un injured and immediately proceeded to send in his report from the nearest telephone This officer has displayed high courage and great devotion to dutv in the face of the enemy. Act. Fit. Lt. G. W. SARTON, R.A.F.V.R., No. 112 Sqn In June, 1942, when it became neces sary to retire from a landing ground. Fit I.t. Garton displayed considerable skill and initiative in salvaging a bomber which bad been stripped of much of its equipment. Without having flown this type of aircraft previously, he successfully flew the bomber, with two passengers, to another airfield where* he made a safe landing. Fit. Lt. Garton has participated in many operational Wing Cdr. T. O.'* Freeman, D.S.O., D.F.C., R.N.Z.A.F. (No. 115 Sqn.), who has been awarded a bar to his D.F.C. sorties in which he has destroyed at least four hostile aircrait. DISTINGUISHED FLYING MEDAL. Fit. Sgt. D. 11. McliuRNu:, R.A.A.I.. No. 450 (R.A.A.F.) Sqn.- Fit. S Kt Mi Unrnie has displayed outstanding courage and keenness in his combats with the enemy. He has participated in many oper ational sorties, and has destroyed several enemy aircraft He particularly distinguished himself on one occasion when participating as cover to a formation of ctrcraft detailed to make a bombing attack. When Rearing the target, the formation was attacked by two enemy fighters. In the en suing combat Fit. Sgt. McBurnie displayed skill and determination and only broke off the engage ment when his aircraft had been riddled with bullets and he was wounded in the teg and shoulder. This airman has set a fine example. Fit. Sgt. D. G. REID. it.C.A.F No. 185 Sqn -This . airman has displaced skill, courage and determination in the face o' the enemy. On two occasions recently he has been detailed to attack enemy fighters escorting bombers, and although greatly outnumbered, he destroyed t ne fighter on each occasion. In June, 1942, he encountered a torce of Italian bombers which were heavily escorted by fighter aircraft. Diving through the fighters, he attacked one of the bombers and set it on fire and then destroyed one of the fighters which had attacked him. Fit. «gt. Reid has destroyed at least five enemy aircraft in a period of seven weeks. Fit. Sgt. D. R. STEWA-I R.N.Z.A.F., No. TO Sqn.—One night in June, i 42, Fit. Sgt. Stewart ..was the captain of ah aire.aft detailed to attack enemy armoured vehicles and motor transport. After delivering several bombing attacks, he dived to a verv low altitude and carried out tw > machine-gun attacks. Fit. Sgt. Stewart's aircraft was then hit by machine gun and cannon fire from an enemy fishier. Displaying skilful airman ship, he evaded the attacker and, despite the severe damage sustained, flew the aircraft back to base, where he made a successful landing with the undercarriage retracted. Sgt. G. F. BEURLINC. NO. 249 Sqn.—Sgt. Buer ling has displayed great skill and courage in the face ot the enemy. One day in July. 1942, he engaged a number of enemy fighters which were escorting a formation of Ju.88'8 and destroyed one fighter. Later, during the same day, he engaged ten enemy fighters and shot two of them down into the sea, bringing his total victories to eight. Fit. Sgt. L. R. AUST, No. 59 Son.-This airman has been engaged on operational flying since May, 1940. He served in France and took part in several sorties whilst his squadron was based there. Sine* then he has completed many sorties through out which his work as wireless operator/air gunner has been of a high standard. On two occasions, when his aircraft was intercepted by an enemy fighter, his well-directed fire drove off the attacker each time. Sgt. S. E. GOULD. No. 230 Sqn (deceased). Awarded with effect from July 29th, 1941.—This airman was first fitter/air gunner in a Sunderland aircraft which evacuated a large number of pas sengers from Greece between April 17th and May 2nd. His devotion to duty, which sometimes caused him to work 24 hours without a break, and bis-continual cheerfulness under adverse conditions were an inspiration to the rest of the crew, lli< keenness in his work, which entailed manning bis gun and attending to the instruments during long nights, set a high example. H. MENARV, R.A.F.V.R., No. 22 Sqn. (de-
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