WAIRAU VALLEY'S D.F.M.

Marlborough Express, Volume LXXVI, Issue 243, 15 October 1942, Page 4

WAIRAU VALLEY'S D.F.M.

FLIGHT- SERGE ANT COLEMAN'S RETURN. RECEPTION TO-MORROW NIGHT The story of how his decoration was won was heard at first-hand by Wairau Valley settlers who turned out in full force to weleome FlightSergeant Keith Coleman, D.F.M., a son of Mr and Mrs S. J. Coleman, of Wairau Valley, who has returned to the Dominion. Flight-Sergeant Coleman 1-eaves to resume duty to-mor-row, and before his departur-e he is to be accorded a reception by the mayor (Mr C. T. Smith) at the Services Club. Replymg to speeehes of weleome at the Wairau Valley function, FlightSergeant Coleman, who has seen ex~ tensive service overseas, confined to a few words a thrilfing tale of his experiences in one of the hig raids on Germany. The bomber's navigator, co-pilot and a gunner were killed in the course of the attack, he said, and the pilot was seriously injured in the right arm. In addition the plans was damaged. He and the pilot wer-e the only ones aboard left alive and the pilot actually ordered him to bail out. However, It had been decided that he should take over the controis as a last r-esort, and after an anxious time he had succe-eded in crash-land-ing the machine in England. For this he had been decorated. Another experience which the Flight-Sergeant recounted concerned a flight from England to Malta. After becoming lost through bad weather the plan-e crew eventually found themselves over Naples. They had

dlscussed landing, which would have involved being taken prisoner, but although it was not considered that sufficient fuel remained to enable them to re/vch their objective they had decided that the risk was worth it. "We reached Malta with only enough petro. for four minutes' fly--ing," he adden. In welcoming Flight-Sergeant Coleman, Mr M. Evans (chairman of the Wairau Valley Patriotic Zone) referred to his 21 years of service over Germany, at Malta and in Egypt. Other speakers were Messrs A H. Nees (representing the Marlborough County\, Council), G. H. Broadbridge (Waihau Valley Settlers' v. Association) , c. "^V. Eden (Wairau Valley Rifie Club), ,and L. Anderson «jairau Valley TemVis Club). Tht? function was aihteo in honour of Corpo!'al A. Lawrence.m % v — d|