RESOURCE AND DARING

Evening Star, Issue 23695, 1 October 1940, Page 6

RESOURCE AND DARING

GREYMOUTH PILOT WINS D.F.C. [Peu United Press Association.] WELLINGTON, September 30. According to particulars released by the Director of Publicity (Mr J. T. Paul), Pilot-officer Denton, who has been awarded the D.F.C., is 23 years of age. He was born at Greymouth, and was educated at the Greymouth Technical High School, whore ho_ was prominent in many sporting activities. After leaving school, he entered the Public Works Department, and about the same time became a member of the Greymouth Aero Club, later joining the Civil Reserve of Pilots. Ho w.as selected for a short-term commission in 1939,

and received his preliminary training in the Royal New Zealand Air Force at Wigram. At the end of 1939 he left for Britain to join the R.A.F. His father, Mr F. H. Denton, is well known as town clerk of Greymouth. The official citation on which Pilotofficer Denton was awarded the D.F.C. states: “ He showed great resource and daring in successfully attacking the Chartres aerodrome from a very low altitude, although the enemy tried to tempt him with a dummy flare path. On another occasion, failing to locate a Ruhr target because of severe weather, he decided to attack docks and shipping at Flushing. He broke cloud at I,oooft, and through a devastating curtain of fire released his bombs from an altitude so low that the force of the explosion rocketed the aeroplane hundreds of feet. He saw large fires and explosions, and brought his aeroplane back to its base with difficulty. There were gaping holes in each wing. Pilotofficer Denton has participated in 24 major bombing raids. He is a determined, courageous captain, and carries the complete confidence of his crew and associates.”