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Aviation History
1942
1942 - 2124.PDF
402 FLIGHT OCTOBER 8TH, 1942 was started followed by explosions. This officer has always displaced unfailing devotion to duty, whilst his professional knowledge has done much to maintain the efficiency of his flight. Sqn l,dr. D. L. UOUIJJ, No. 33 Sqn.—This officer i ompleu il 240 hours operational nying in France and England (during winch period two enemy aircraft were destroyed by his gunner) before pro ceeding to the Middle East. In the Western MSSHt he has destroyed three Me.109s, probably destroyed five other enemy aircraft, and damaged a lurtner four, bonus the earlier part of the Libyan campaign his squadron was extensively i-mpioyeil on ground mai nine-gunning attacks. It wan responsible lor the destruction of 750 mech anised vehicles, 50 of these being destroyed by ftqn. X-dr. Gould. JJis leadership and personal example have played a large part in the high morale and success of his squadron. Hon Ldr. W. A. UBiiiiTHS, ll.A.F.V.R—Sqn. Lair, (jnftiths completed many operations over France and Germany before being posted to the Middle East. He has completed many hazardous operations. 8qn. Ldr. I. B. WESTMACOTT.—This officer fought in the Battle ol Britain, in whicb he destroyed three an 1 damaged another three enemy aircraft. Subsequently he participated in fighter sweeps over France. In March, 1941, he was posted to Malta, where he has destroyed one enemy fighter and damaged a He.lll. Early in December, 1941, Sun. Ldr. Wcstmaeott was appointed u command a night fighter flight, and has partici pated in a number of " intruder" sorties. Although on two occasions this officer's aircraft has been shot down, and he has been compelled to escape by parachute, he has at all times dis played great keenness to get to grips with the enemy. Act. Maj. J. A. WiUlAMS, S.A.A.F.. No. 24 (S.A.A.F.) Son.—Since the squadron first went into action this officer has completed numerous bombing raids. in May, 1941, whilst flying a Maryland aircraft on a long-range fighter escort to II.M. ships south of Crete, he engaged a Me.110 with his front guns and shot it down into the sea. In December, 1941, his aircraft was one of a small formation ol Bostons which were attacked bv 16 Me.l09s. His aircraft was shot down, but Maj. Williams and two of his crew escaped by parachute. Although he was slightly wounded, lie remained on operations, lie has led very sue-eessful raids on the enemv. Act. Sqn. Ldr. M. T. Juurj, A.F.C., R.A.F.V.R., No. 250 Sqn This officer has led his squadron on every one ol its sorties in the latest battle for Libya, including many long-range machine-gun attacks on enemy mechanised transport in the .Ichel area. He has taken part in escorts to Boston Ixirnbers raiding Benghazi and Tobrnk when the battle was out of range ol the ordinary fighters; he also took part in the successful ma' lime-gunning ol Gazala airdrome. On May 12th the squadron Intercepted a lorce of Ju.52s escorted by Me.110s between Derna and Matime. In the ensuing engagement 13 Ju.52s and two Me. 110s were snot down; Sqn. Ldr. Judd destroyed two of the ,7u.52s himself. By his courage and devotion to duty he has contributed materially to the high standard ol morale and fighting efficiency el his pilots. \. I Sqn. |,dr. K. A. LAWRENCE, NO. 185 Son. — This officer led his tliuhl, and subsequently the squadron, for more than four months. Through-oat, he displayed great courage and outstanding keenness. )\\> example at all times, especially Rear Admiral Morgan and Air Comdre, W. A. Bowen-Buscarlett at the cere mony of the presentation of the George Cross to Malta. SERVICE AVIATION when the odds were great, was ol the best. He has. destroyed lour, probably destroyed and damaged many other enemy aircraft. Act. 8qn. Ldr, W. C. H IOMOKE. NO. 235 Sqn.— Sqn. Ldr. Wigmore is an outstanding leader. One morning in June he escorted convoys to Malta Irom cast of Cape Eon and nea, Pantellaria re spectively, when there was much enemy fighter activity in those areas. Despite this, he attacked and shot down one fighter and damaged a Ju.88 which were attacking the convoy. He has led his section in fighter cover on all " Beaufort " sorties against the Italian fleet and against convoys to the west and east ol Malta. Fit. Li. H. H. BLUNDELL. R.N.Z.A.F., No. 104 Sqn.—This officer is engaged on his second opera tional tour. Before proceeding to the Middle East, he took part in sorties over Germany and France, including targets at such highly defended places as Kiel, Cologne, Hamburg, and many others. in the Middle East, his sorties have included the submarine base at Salamis and the airfields of Crete, both during the e/acuation and since; he has also made many attacks on objectives at Benghazi. He has attacked objectives at Naples, Taranto, Cagliari and Messina. Fit. Lt. Blundell is the squadron navigation officer and bombing leader. He takes immense pains in the training of new observers and in the organisation of the bombing. Fit. Lt. M. S. BLYTH, Mo. 37 Sqn.-This officer has participated in attacks on objectives in occupied France, Germany Crete, Cyrenaica, Tripolitania, Sicily, and the Dodecanese. Through out he has proved himself to be a most skilful and courageous pilot and could always be relied upon to complete his allotted task with deter mination. Fit. Lt. G. McL. HAYTON.-Flt. Lt, Havton is an outstanding and fearless night fighter pilot. Since his arrival at Malta he has destroyed four, probably destroyed two, and damaged two enemy aircraft. On the night of May 22nd he destroyed one B.R.20 and probably destroyed another during the same sortie. Fit. Lt. G. L. MACINTVKE, No. 221 Sqn.—This officer is a captain of outstanding courage and ability. He has been engaged on operations almost continuously since the war began, and has always shown enthusiasm. He has completed many hours' operational flying, involving patrols over the North Sea and the Atlantic, from England, Northern Ireland, and Iceland. On two occasions he has succeeded in locating and attacking enemy submarines. Fit. Lt. J. G. MANFORD, R.A.A.F., No 203 Sqn.—In January, 1942, this officer was engaged on a routine patrol from Benghazi and inter cepted n submarine which was bombed and prob ably damaged Immediately afterwards, the enemy battle fleet was observed. On this, his first opera^ tional flight with this unit, Fit. Lt. Manford f roved himself to be an able reconnaissance pilot n March, 1942, he was detailed to intercept and shadow enemy warships. Although he was new to the type of aircraft; and had never flown it at night, he unhesitatingly undertook the duty which involved a flight over the sea of nearly four hours at night and a landing in the dark. Fit. Lt. R. V. MUSPBATT, No. 140 Sqn.—This officer has carried out dav and night bombing sorties. Fit. Lt. Muspratt has at all times dis played great determination. Undeterred by enemy opposition, he has invariably obtained ex ceptional result.. This officer is a first-class flight commander. He never hesitates to undertake a difficult opeiational task himself rather than detail an inexjierienced rilot. Capt. .1. I'. BLAAUW. S.A.A.F, NO. 40 Sqn — This officer • has always displayed the greatest loyalty and devotion to duty. Bv his own splen did exampl? he has maintained the morale and confidence of his pilots by personally undertaking most of the more dangerous sorties. Capt. L. C. BOTHA. S.A.A.F., No. 5 Sqn (since reported Drifting).—On June 3rd. 19412. Capt. Botha was the pilot of one of a formation of nine aircraft which intercepted an enemy force of some 12 .lu 87s escorted by over 20 fighters. Disre garding the fighters, Capt. Botha dived down to attack the bombers. Pressing home his attacks with the utmost determination, courage and skill, and in spite of attacks by the enemy fighters, he remained in combat until he had expended all his ammunition and had destroyed three of the Ju.87s and assisted in the destruction of another. Capt. W. A. NEL, S.A.A.F., No. 40 Sqn.—This officer performed exceptional service in East Africa. In the Western Desert, especially within the last few weeks, his personal courage and leadership have been outstanding. On one occa sion Captain Nel outfought six Me. 109s and flew safely to base, returning with invaluable infor mation. Act. Fit. I.t. I. J. BADGER, NO. 73 Sqn.-This officer has been engaged on operational Hying for a long time. He took part in the air ngl&ing in France in May. 1940, and on his retuMt to this country he fought in the Battle of Britain. Posted to the Middle East, his exceptional quali ties tinder extremely hazardous conditio** have been outstanding. On 20th March. 1942/FIt. Lt. Badger inn Injjiiitii il HI II Ifllll'limii jj/'L attack ^n the urfWiTat Derna. He diSfcteydn coolness per anticipation in the eombfigRl effort of formation, which resulted in th^^pstruetion of sever*) enemy aircraft on the gr»\ino\and the complete destruction of an illuminrfed flfce path. In May, in a special sortie oirthrce aircraft, operating from the most advanced operational landing ground. Fit. Jfet Badper was agin to the fore. AIthe»gh tio'Vucalss of this sortie depende#"\n a^cur|te fiyiite^governed as- i| was by the limitation of fuel capacity, he successfully reached the target and machine gunned dispersed aircraft near the hangars. Fit. Lt. Badger flew his aircraft safely back to base. This officer has destroyed three, probably destroyed four and damaged six other hostile aircraft. Act. Fit. Lt. G. T. CHINCHEN, R.A.A.F., No. 3 (R.A.A.F.) SOJB. (since reported missing).—This officer has shown outstanding courage and devo tion to duty. Although he has been shot downjv and, on numerous occasions, had his aircrafr*W severely damaged, it has in no way diminished his keenness or fighting spirit. During the fighting from May 26th to Jane 1st, 1942, he led numer ous formations in dive-bombing and machine gun attacks on important enemy concentrations, always pressing home these attacks with great deter mination and courage, inflicting considerable damage on equipment and troops. His steadiness and sound leadership have proved a big factor in the success of his formations on these and many other operations such as fighter sweeps, bomber escorts and Army co-operation work in earlier phases of the Western Desert campaign. Act. Fit. L*. A. E. GLAZEK, R.C.A.F.—In the coarse of a large namber of sorties this officer has performed excellent work as observer, the majority of them have been executed at night in all kinds of weather. He was instrumental in the destruction of an enemy vessel of some 10,000 tons off the coast of Sicily. Again, on the night of December 12th, 1941. he participated in an operation which resulted in the destruction by H.M. ships of two Italian cruisers off the North African coast. Act. Fit. Lt. N. W. LEE, R.A.F.V.R., No. 249 Sqn.—This officer has been engaged in active operations over Malta for Z\'-> months, most of which were during the period of heavy air attacks, when the numbers of our own aircraft were few, and every operation entailed fighting against great odds. He has destroyed three enemy air craft and damaged several more. Fit. Lt. Lee has on all occasions led his flight with great gallantry. Act. Fit. Lt. F. MASON, NO. 80 Sqn.—This officer joined the squadron in June, 1941, as an airman pilot. He has always shown great keenness, and has led sections and flights with great deter mination. He has participated in at least 12 escorts to bomber aircraft, and he has destroyed at least three enemy aircraft. Act. Fit. Lt. G. H. WESTXAKE, R.A.F.V.R., No. 213 Sqn.—Fit. Lt. Westlake is a daring and tenacious fighter pilot. As a flight commander he has proved a great success. On the occasion when he has led the .squadron he has shown brilliant resource coupled with a high degree of accuracy. He has destroyed at leaBt eight enemy Act. Fit. Lt. A. C. WOODLEY, R.A.F.V.R., No. 148 Sqn.—Before joining this squadron this officer completed 27 operations, including attacks on such highly defended targets as Berlin, Mann heim, Hamburg and other important places in Germany and German-occupied territory, and on the Channel ports. In the Middle East he has acted as rear gunner on many occasions against targets in Cyrenaica and Crete, and from Malta against Comisq. No duty has ever been too arduous. For the past few months he has been employed as squadron leader. By his zeal, skill and personality he has established a high stan. dard of air gunnery in the squadron. He still insists on flying with new crews as rear gunner on their first operational mission. Act. Fit. Lt. L. T. SPENCE, R.A.A.F., No. 3 (R.A.A.F.) Sqn.—During a period of fighting in the Western Desert, when the squadron was en-gaged on dive-bombing and ground machine gun ning operations, he led numerous formations in raids on important enemy concentrations, and always pressed home his attacks with great deter mination and courage. Considerable damage was inflicted. His steadiness and sound leadership were a big factor in the success achieved by his formation on these operations and also when engaged on bomber escort and army co-operation duties in the Western Desert campaign. Fit. Lt. Spence has destroyed two enemy aircraft. DISTINGUISHED FLYING MEDAL. Fit. Sgt. D. BAIINETT, R.A.F.V.R., No. 230 Squ. , —As first wireless operator on Sunderland aircraft, this airman has seen service in Great Britain. Egypt. Malta, Gibraltar. Greece, Crete, Iraq and Cyrenaica. He has taken part in two successful sea rescues. On three occasions, when under enemy fire, his coolness in passing messages was outstanding. In the last engagement his air craft was shot down, but Fit. Sgt. Barnett con tinued to transmit messages to base until the aircraft began to break up on the rugged coast. Fit. Sgt. A. C. BENNETT. No. 104, Sqn.—Besides participating in operations in the Middle East, this airman haB completed sorties over Germany tthile the squadron was based in this country. On one occasion over Cologne, the aircraft, in which he .was acting as second pilot, was severely damaged by fire from an enemv fighteT. Although he sustained a bullet wound. Fit. Sgt. Bennett rendered every assistance to his captain on the return flight. His conduct lent much confidence to the otheT members of the crew. On his first sortie after becoming a captain he made a skilful landing at a strange airfield after one engine of his aircraft had burst into flames. Once. wbiUt over Berlin, one engine of his bomber was put out of action by shell-fire. Despite this he new on and bombed his objective. The return flight front Berlin to' this country was accomplished nearly the whole way on one engine. On another occa sion he displayed commendable skill and courage when bombing Benghazi from a low level. Fit. Sgt. (now W/O.) W. C. BHODIE. No. 38 Sqn.—Fit Rgt. Brodie is an exceptional pilot who carries out his operations with courage and deter- 9>w\ leC-ttJn
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