AN R.A.F. TRIBUTE

Dominion, Volume 37, Issue 196, 17 May 1944, Page 4

AN R.A.F. TRIBUTE

Belgium’s Fighting Spirit Th? Consulate-General of Belgium in New Zealand has been informed that Air Vice-Marshal 11. W, L Saunders, CB. CB.E., M.C., H.F.Q., M.M., former Chief of Air Staff in New Zealand, and now 0.0. of an important fighter group in Britain, spoke as follows in the course of a ceremony during which he haudeu over to Air Commodore F. E. Wouters, C.8.E., M.C- 0.0. of the Belgian Air Force serving with the 8.A.F., the medal of a D.F.C. posthumously awarded to a Belgian Typhoon pilot “It is with confidence and hope that we look forward to the next few months, which will see the liberation of Belgium. We look also to the future with confid ence in the knowledge that our two countries will strive in close co-operation toward the maintenance of peace in Europe. The K.A.F. has a great admiration for your country and for its fighting spirit. We admire equally the great qualities of courage, resolution and initiative displayed by the Belgian pilots serving with us.” In the course of the same ceremony, Air Commodore Wouters decorated Flying Officer F. E. Hogg. D.F.C., of Maaterton, with the Belgian Croix de GuerreFlying Officer Hogg has taken part in numerous operational flights as navigator to a Belgian flight lieutenant.