AIR AWARDS

Auckland Star, Volume LXXIII, Issue 123, 27 May 1942, Page 7

AIR AWARDS

N.Z. PILOTS PRAISED

Recognition For Dominion And

British Airmen

I!.P.A. anil iiritisli Wireless. Rec. 1 p.m. LONDON, May 2G. The D.F.C. was awarded to Squad-ron-Deader George Gatonhy Stead, of the R.A.F. His citation stales that he has completed over GOOO hours of flying, of which 800 were operational He is the most brilliant and reliable pilot-navigator of his squadron, and as a result of his qualifications has always been given the hardest tasks, calling for special skill. He has carried out day and night operations over the Shetlands, Iceland, the Mediterranean and West Africa. Squadron-Loader Stead, whose home is now in London, was born in Hastings in 1911, and educated at Christ College, Christchurch. He was commissioned in 1930, transferred to the reserve in 1934, and called up for service in 1940. He was promoted squadron-leader in September, 1941, and acting-wing-commander in March, 1912.' Flight-Sergeant James Fraser Barron, of the R.N.Z.A.F.. has been awarded the D.F.M. His citation states that he has completed many operational flights as captain of aircraft. including attacks against Berlin. Frankfurt, Bremen and Brest, and proved most reliable, efficient and courageous, pressing home his attacks regardless of opposition. He was born in Dunedin in 1921. His home is I'almerston South, where he was a clerk before enlistment in 1910 for training as a pilot under the Commonwealth training plan. Sergeant George Henry Dow also won the D.F.M. His citation states that he has attained a high standard as a navigator and bomb-aimer. Ilis operations, which include a daylight ! attack on Brest, were successfully I completed, often in adverse weather. Sergeant Dow was born at Graves- ! end in 1910. His home is in Wellington, and he was an accounting clerk before enlistment in 1940 for training as an observer under the Commonwealth training planBritish Pilots at Bruneval Acting-Wing-Commander P. C. Pickard, D.5.0., receives a bar to his D.S.O. in a list of 58 R.A.F. awards recently announced. He led his squadron which carried the parachute troops to raid Bruneval. He also took part in the Norway campaign and was at Dunkirk. In the action at Bruneval. when an important radio location post was destroyed, not one of the aircraft led by him was Inst. Two other officers who took the troops to Bi uneval were also honoured. They are Acting-Squadron-I .eadcr D. E. I'eveler, who gains a bar to his D.F.C.. and SquadronLeader J. 11. Meade, who receives the D.F.C. Squadron-Leader Peveler assisted greatly in the training necessary for the operation, which contributed largely to the success achieved, lie also led a section of four aircraft to the attack. Wing-Commander B. D. Sellick. who showed great courage and leadership in taking his squadron into action against the German warships in their Channel dash, gets a bar to his D.F.C. IBy special arrangement. Reuter's World Service, in addition to other special sources of information, is used in the compilation of the overseas intelligence published in this and all lights therein in Australia and New Zealand are reserved. Such of the cable news on this page as is so headed has appeared in The Times, and is sent to this paper by special permission. It should be understood that the opinions are not those of The Times unless stated to be so.]