FlightGlobal.com
Home
Premium
Archive
Video
Images
Forum
Atlas
Blogs
Jobs
Shop
RSS
Email Newsletters
You are in:
Home
Aviation History
1944
1944 - 1138.PDF
596 FLIGHT JUNE 1ST, I944 member of tho CJ « I • 1 • 1 inside the rrar 1 he entered tlie bla^nife fo&el&gti horn 11;«_• Ironl and walked towards tbe rear in an endeavour to rescue tlit- airman. Sqn. Lrtr. Scott was at first driven back by the heat and smoke, but. display ing great determination, he repeated his effort and succeeded in reaching the turret and in passing the injured airman to safety through a hole'is tho rear. He then ensured that there were no further members of the crew left before he made his way out. Sqn. Ldr. Scott displayed courage and devotion to duty in the face of fire, and of the further danger thai the petrol tanks might have exploded whilst he was engaged in the rescue. He was undoubtedly responsible for sav ing the airman's life. M.B.E. (Mil.) F/O B til \1\CKENZIE, Il.AAF . No. 168 Sqn. In * pry 1 Dj netunstanees F/O. Mackenzie display) erminatiaon, courage- aird devo tion If; George Medal F/O. G. C. ABEL. R.C.A.F., No. 36 Sqn.—In November, 1943, F/O. Abel wa- a member of the crew of an aircraft detailed for an operational >ortie. Shortly after taking off. the pilot was .eiiipelled to make an emergency landing, and, on touching the ground, the aircraft burst into (lames. The crew, who had taken crash positions, proceeded to leave the aircraft through the emer gency exits. F/O. Abel, with his companions, had travelled a distance of approximately 60 yards before he realised that one member of the crew, the rear gunner, was missing. The aircraft was blazing furiously and ammunition was exploding; there was also the grave risk of the petrol tanks and the bombs exploding. F/O. Abel, ignoring tho imminent danger «•»*• -led to the aircraft, calling nn «•- of tfc» "—— SERVICE AVIATION exits, hwl become jammed. Efforts were made to turn trie turret, but this the rescuers found to be impossible. F/O. Abel then smashed the Perspex with' his bare hands, and succeeded in dragging the rear gunner clear of the wreckage. When all were about 20 yards from the aircraft tho first bomb exploded, and the aircraft was soon completely destroyed. By his courage and leader ship F/O. Abel undoubtedly saved his comrade's life at the risk of his own. Fit. Bgt. B. MCDONAGH, R.A.F.V.R.—In Janu ary, 1914, a Wellington aircraft caught fire in the air. Fit. Sgt. McDonagh, an air gunner under 1 raining, was instructed by the captain to come forward from the rear gun position, but, whilst so doing, the aircraft crashed; he was rendered unconscious and thrown up into the fuselage. The aircraft was blazing furiously. Fit. Sgt. Mc Donagh regained consciousness arid was able to extricate himself from the blazing wreckage. Al though badly dazed aud suffering from abrasions to his legs and body, he immediately went to the from, of the bomber, where he found the pilot, who was unconscious in the names and still strapped in his seat. Fit. Sgt. McDonagh suc ceeded in releasing the pilot and in dragging him to safety. He then returned to the aircraft on two more occasions, and rescued the navigator and the air bomber. The latter was, unfortun ately, dead. Fit. Sgtj^McBUfl'uiglCs outstanding courage and cornnlete disregard for-^anger un doubtedly saverLrfwo lives. N. Sgt. L. W„«*'RE8TON, R.A.F.V.R.,tN/o. 1«& Sqn:— One «•' -rUff in T ' ~-r*efon was thrown cle.tr of .the aircraft. The pilot, who j left in the cockpit, sustained a broken leg. i.u(T, although he had released his straps, he was unable to get out unaided. His cockpit was soon enveloped by the flames. Displaying complete dis regard for his own safety. Sgt. Preston returned to the blazing aircraft and, working in the names, Mirreeded in dragging the pilot to safety. In so doing Sgt. Preston sustained second degn e burns. His gallant and prompt 'action saved the pilot's life. Sgt. Preston was also involved in a similar accident in November. 1943, when he suc ceeded in dragging the pilot clear. On this occa sion the aircraft did not catch fire, but there was a constant possibility of its doing so. Sgt. C. G. KENT, R.N.Z.A.F.—When a flare accidentally became ignited among a stack of .bombs and depth-charges, Set. Kent, well aware that a major explosion was likely, hurried to the spot and endeavoured to remove the flare. In Ids first attempt he had his left hand burned, but, regardless of his own safety, he persisted and removed the flare, still burning fiercely, to a place of safety. He suffered further severe burns before succeeding in an action which ensured the safety of other personnel, and saved a number of aircraft from almost certain destruction. 'HE KING has beer graciously pleased approve the following awards:—. to Air Force Cross Wing Cdr. B. ANDREW, R.C.A.F. Act. Wing Cdr, J. S. HAMILTON, R.A.F.V.R. ... Sqn. Ldr. E. B. GALE, R.C.A.F. Sqn. Ldr. J. S. HOWDEN. R.C.A.F. Act. Sqn. Ldr. E. J. HAVES, R.A.F. Fit. Lt. G. D. JEFFREY, R.C.A.F. Fit. Lt. G. A. LEE, RCA F F/O. R. ARMEK, H.C.A.F. F/O. C..A. DICKSON, R.C.A.F. F/O. H. B. HILLCOAT, A.F.M., R.C.A.F. F/O. F. B. LABRISH, R.C.A.F. F/O. A. W. MOORE, R.C.A.F. F/O. J. PATTON, R.C.A.F. P/O. E. M. ROSENBAUM, R.C.A.F, P/O. G. N. P. SEELER, R.C.A.F. VV/O. 1st CI. W. J. DUNCAN, R.C.A.F. Air Force Medal !pl. A. DE MARCO, R.C.A.F. rHE KING has been graciously plea seel, on the advice of His Majesty's Canadian Ministers, o approve the following awards: — B.E.M. (Mil.) !gt. R R. BARKER, R.C.A.F. Jgi. G. A. HARE. R.C.A.F. 3pt W. W. RiOLIN, R.C.A.F. Foreign Decorations T HE KING has granted unrestricted permission for the wearing of the undermentioned decorations conferred upon the officers indicated in recognition of valuable services rendered in connection with the war: — Conferred by Her Majesty the Queen of the Netherlands Flight Cross Act. Wing Cdr. R. N. BATESON, D.S.O., D.F.C., li A.F.O. Conferred by the President of the Republic of Poland Virtuti Militari (5th Class) Fit. Lt. E. J. HARROD, R.A.F. Krzyz Walecznych (Cross of Valour) P/O. J. A. WELLS, R.A.A.F. P/O. N. WILCOCK, R.A.F. Conferred by the President of the United States of America Legion of Merit (Officer) Sqn. Ldr. H. C. WALKER, A.F.C., R.N.Z.A.F. Conferred by the President of the National Government of the Republic of China Order of the Sacred Tripod (Paotiag) Group Capt. J. WARBURTON, R.A.F. Roll of Honour Casualty Communique 2Vo. 389. T HE Air Ministry regrets to announce the fol lowing casualties on various dates. The next of kin have been informed. Casualties " in action " are due to Hying operations against the enemy; "on active service" includes ground casualties due to enemy action, non-operational flying casualties, fatal accidents and natural deaths. Of the names in this list 105 are second entries giving later information of casualties published in earlier lists. Royal Air Force KILLED IN ACTION.—Sgt. A. G. Beeston; F>,,. Lt. A. L. B. Bent; P/O. F. J. Cooke; P/O. G. '** Coster; L.A/C. E. Eliav; F/O. P. Harrison; Sgt. W. McL. Jack; Fit. Sgt. J. G. Jones; E. A, Knight; Sgt. J. J. Yeates. PBEVIOUSLY REPORTED MISSING, BELIEVED ) '% s; Vl$~
Sign up to
Flight Digital Magazine
Flight Print Magazine
Airline Business Magazine
E-newsletters
RSS
Events
