D.F.C. AWARDS

Evening Star, Issue 23679, 12 September 1940, Page 8

D.F.C. AWARDS

TWO MORE NEW ZEALANDERS HONOURED SQUADRON LEADER'S FINE RECORD [Pek United Press Association.] WELLINGTON, September 12. The following particulars regarding awards to New Zealand airmen are released by the Director of Publicity. Two more New Zealanders have been awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross, according to information received at Air Headquarters, Wellington, this morning. They are acting Squadron Leader Aubrey Arthur Ninnis Brcckon and acting Flight-lieutenant Francis Edwin Eustace. Brockon conics from Northcote, Auckland, and is 26 years old. According to the official citation “ lie participated in 21 major bombing attacks on Germany, Holland, Belgium, and France.' He made a reconnaissance flight north of Narvik of a duration of m hours undeterred by enemy action and bad weather. Ho is a reliable and persistent long-distance pilot and a cool, courageous, and determined leader.” The flight to Narvik is generally acknowledged as the record long-distance flight of the first 12 months of war, Involving a distance of 2.000 miles from Scotland and back through icy weather and severe storms. The flight was made by an aircraft of the New Zealand Squadron with two other New Zealanders in the crew, the navigator coming from Stratford and the wireless operator from Auckland. Breckou was a newspaper photographer in Auckland before he was granted a short service commission in the R.A.F. Shortly before the war ho was posted to the New Zealand Squadron in England, transferring to the Royal New Zealand Air Force. When war broke out the squadron was placed at the disposal of the R.A.F., and .Brcckon has since played a conspicuous part in the squadron’s activities. Eustace, who is 21, was horn at Nelson and educated at Taumaninui District, High School and Nelson College. He was accepted tor a short service commission in the R.A.F. in 1(137.