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Aviation History
1943
1943 - 0260.PDF
io6 FLIGHT JANUARY 28TH, 1943 SERVICE AV I ATION attack a target in North-West Germany. Whenapproaching the objective his aircraft was held in a cone of searchlights and badly damaged byanti-aircralt fire. Despite this, P/O. Cozens, dis- playing great determination, flew on and bombedthe target irom a very low level. On the return journey the bomber was again hit by anti-aircraftlire and the starboard inner engine caught alight. Descending to 100 feet, a luel tank was jettisoned,and the fire extinguished. P/O. Cozens then flew his aircraft safely back to base. F/O. P. G. FREBERG, R.C.A.F., No. 7 Sqn.—Thisofficer, as navigator, has participated in a number of operational sorties during which he has dis-played great determination and a high standard of courage *nd tenacity. DISTINGUISHED FLYING MEDAL. Bgt. T. Nix, NO. 460 (R.A.A.F.) Sqn.-Sgt. Nixis a wireless operator of high merit. lie has always displayed great keenness, and has ren-dered valuable service. Sgt. P. MALONEY, NO. 49 Sqn.—Sgt. Maloney hastaken part in many operational sorties as wireless operator. On one occasion, when returning from iraid on Germany, he remained with his captain after the crew had baled out in order to assisthim in an emergency landing. He performed his duties coolly anil correctly, but soon after reach-ing the coast the aircraft crashed. Sgt. (now P/O.) A. NUTT, R.A.F.V.R., No. 405(R.C.A.F.) Sqn.—As wireless operator/air-gunner, Sgt Nutt has rendered excellent service. He haataken part in attacks on a wide range of targets, including Berlin, industrial centres in the Ruhr,and on the battleships Scharnhorst and Gnei- tenau in the Channel. Sgt. E. R. SMITH, NO. 102 Sqn.—This airman hasserved a3 wireless operator/air-gunner and as an air bomber, proving himself to be exceptionallyable in both roles. He has taken part in attacks on many of the enemy's heavily defended targets,including. Berlin, Duisburg, Wilhelmshaven, Kiel and Cologne. Sgt. E. L. TRENDEIX, NO. 420 (R.C.A.F.) Sqri.—Sgt. Trendell has completed his sorties with courage and determination. He is a highly reli-able wireless operator. On one occasion when the pilot was wounded and one engine was set on fireby anti-aircraft fire, he was largely responsible for enabling his captain to fly the damaged air-craft back to this country. He has participated in many attacks on industrial targets and inseveral mine-laying missions. Sgt. W. T. UPTON, NO. 61 Sqn.—Sgt. Upton hastaken part in many operational sorties as wire- less operator/air-gunner. He was member of acrew which made a successful attacK on a U-boat in the Bay of Biscay. Sgt. C. A. L. WALTON, NO. 102 Sqn.—Sgt. Wal-ton has flown on a number of sorties as air-gunner and many others as air-bomber. He has takenpart in attacks on targets in the heavily defended Ruhr area. Sgt. H. H. WEIGHT. NO. 15 Sqn.—This airmanis a rear gunner. He has participated in attacks on Bremen, Emden, Duisberg, Dusseldorf andCologne. Sgt. 1). P. OLIVER. NO. 103 Sqn.—One night inPecember, 1942, this airman was the rear gunner of an aircraft detailed to attack Frankfurt. Whennearing the target area, the aircraft was inter- cepted by two enemy fighters. One of themattacked from the rear, but with great presence of mind, Sgt. Oliver directed his pilot's evasivetactic3 ftnd six attacks were frustrated. On the return flight another enemy fighter attempted toattack, but Sgt. Oliver delivered a telling burst of' fire from close range, causing the enemy air-craft to lose height rapidly with flames issuing from it. Sgt. T. J. MCLEAN, NO. 102 Sqn. Sgt. R. F. LrLLVWHiTE, No. 102 Sqn. One night in December, 1942, Sgts. McLean andLillywhite were mid-upper and rear gunner respec- tively of an aircraft detailed to attack Mannheim.During the attack the aircraft was intercepted by a Ju 88. Slight damage was sustained but accu-rate return fire by Sgts. McLean and Lillywhite caused the enemy aircraft to break away It flewin again, however, but both gunners met it with devastating fire, causing it to dive earthwards inflames. Almost immediately two more enemy air- craft made a simultaneous attack. Accurate firefrom Sgts. McLean and Lillywhite frustrated the attack and one of the fighters was shot down. THE KING lias been graciously pleased toapprove the following awards: — , M.B.E. (MIL.). Fit. Lt. T. H. CULLEN, M.R.C.8., L.R.C P.,R.A.F.V.R., No. 30 Sqn.—A few days before the German invasion of Crete, this medical officerfell sick with dysentery at Maleme. When the heavy air attack on Maleme began, although tooweak to walk properly, he attended to the wounded, and continued to do .so under fireuntil his post was captured. Fit. Lt. Cullen then established a first aid post in a villagenear by and worked alone and without sleep for three days, after which he was joined bytwo doctors of the New Zealand forces. Over •1,000 wounded were passed through this medicalpost before it was finally taken over by an Australian Field Ambulance. GEORGE MEDAL. Fit. Sgt. R. de fontenay JENNER, R.C.A.F., No.7 Sqn.—One night in September, 1942, Fit. Sgt. Jenner was a member of the crew of an aircraftdetailed to attack a target at Dusseldorf. The target was bombed successfully, but, whilst stillover the objective, the aircraft was repeatedly hit by anti aircraft fire. The port inner pro-peller came off and, shortly afterwards, the port outer engine fell out, and the petrol tanks wereholed in many places. During the return journey the crew displayed coolness and skill doing allthey could to keep the crippled bomber in the air. Shortly after crossing the English coastthe aircraft crashed in a field and immediately caught, fire. All the crew, with the exceptionof the rear gunner, managed to extricate them- selves. The whole aircraft was soon blazingfiercely. Knowing that the fuel tanks might explode at any moment, two sergeants re-enteredthe aircraft in" an attempt to rescue the rear gunner. They went forward to reach the placewhere they thought he would have been thrown, but a petrol tank exploded and both were killed.Fit. Sgt. Jenner, who had seen his two comrades killed and knew that a further petrol tank mightexplode, then re-entered the burning fuselage. He found the rear gunner, who was severelyburned, and succeeded in removing him to safety. Sgt. G. L. HOSFOED, No. 104 Sqn.—Sgt. Hosfordwas in charge of a party which laid a flare path and loaded bombs on to a squadron of aircraftone night in June, 1942. The bombers bad Boys of No. 85 Squadron A.T.C. (Southgate) garaging a glider they have built. was designed by F/O. J. R. Ford, who was a civilian pilot before the war. It Air Comdre. A. de T. Nevill, C.B.E., who has arrived to take over the H.Q.of the Royal New Zealand Air Force in England. taken off from a landing ground near by, andsoon afterwards enemy aircraft began to drop flares and bombs in the neighbourhood. Theattack continued throughout the night. At 23.00 hours our bombers returned to the airfield, tobe refuelled and reloaded for a second sortie. One of the aircraft, when taking off on its secondoperation, received a direct hit by an enemy bomb; a terrific explosion occurred, and the air-craft burst into flames. Three members of the crew escaped through the pilot's escape hatchwhilst the rear gunner, who was badly injured but had managed to free himself from his turret,was assisted by Sgt. Hosford to get clear of the aircraft. The bombs on the aircraft beganto explode, but, despite the great danger, Sgt. Hosford retnrned to the blazing wreckage for thewireless operator, who was lying terionsiy injured close to it, and dragged him to a vehicle nearby. The vehicle was badly damaged, and, although Sgt. Hosford had not driven before, he succeededin driving the vehicle away from the danger area. During the whole of this time enemy air-craft were overhead bombing and machine gun- ning the blazing aircraft. Afterwards, to enableour bombers to land when returning from opera- tions, Sgt. Hosford helped to re-lay a flare path,which lie manned for the rest of the night. He displayed courage and devotion to duty of a veryhigh standard, and undoubtedly saved two lives. B.E.M. (MIL.). # Fit. Sgt. B. COUCHMAN, No. 156 Sqn.—One nightin September, 1942, Fit. Sgt. Conchman was tbe navigator of an aircraft detailed to attack a targetin the Ruhr. During the attack the aircraft was intercepted by an enemy aircraft and sustaineddamage which rendered it impossible to release the ' flares. On arrival back at base the captainaccomplished a successful emergency landing, but unfortunately some of the flares ignited. Ammu-nition began to explode, and the aircraft was set alight and was in great danger of being blownup. Displaying complete disregard for his own safety, Fit. Sgt. Couchman remained in the air-craft and assisted three members of the crew to safety, two ol whom were injured. In so doinghe was twice thrown oa to the flames, when the floor collapsed, sustaining severe burns. It waslargely due to his conra^e and devotion to doty that his comrades were able to leave the aircraftsafely. Fit. Set. P. W. HEWITT, NO 204 Sqn—In Jane,1942, Fit. Sgt. Hewitt was the second pilot of a flying boat which crashed whilst alighting in aheavy swell, and sank. The crew were in shark- infested waters, 180 miles from land, with onerubber dinghy and four life belts. The captain of the aircraft was injured, and the dinghy wouldsupport only two people. Fit. Sgt. Hewitt, finding that one of the crew was drowning, managed toget him on to the damaged dinghy and spent the whole of one night swimming alongside, holdingthe man's head out of the water, until he died. Even then Fit. Sgt. Hewitt made strenuous effortsto effect resuscitations, to bis own detriment and exhaustion. Later, when dinghies with food andwater were dropped by an aircraft, Fit. Sgt. Hewitt was the first to swim out to. collect thosewithin range. The crew were on the water for seventy hours before they were rescued, and itwas largely due to the magnificent example of self-sacrifice and endurance of Fit. Sgt. Hewittand his cheerfulness in spite of the apparently hopeless situation that only one or the crew waslost. When rescued he was in a far worse physical condition than his companions.
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