GALLANT AIRMAN

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24416, 30 September 1940, Page 6

GALLANT AIRMAN

YOUNG BRITISH OFFICER AWARDED VICTORIA CROSS A GAMBLE WITH DEATH (British Official Wireless) RUGBY, Sept. 27. The King has conferred the Victoria Cross on Sergeant John Hannah in recognition of his most conspicuous bravery. Sergeant Hannah, who is 18, lives in Glasgow. He was a wireless operator and air gunner in an aircraft engaged in a successful attack on large concentrations of barges on the night of September 15, states an Air Ministry bulletin. The aircraft was hit by a projectile of an explosive and incendiary nature, which apparently burst inside the bomb comoartment. A fire started and quickly enveloped the cockpits of the wireless operator and rear gunner. The port and starboard petrol tanks being pierced, there was a grave danger of the fire spreading. Sergeant Hannah then forced his way through the fire to obtain two extinguishers, and discovered that the rear gunner had been forced to leave the aircraft. He could have done the same, but remained and fought the fire for 10 , minutes with the extinguishers, then beating the flames with the log book. During this time thousands of rounds of ammunition exploded in all directions, and Sergeant Hannah was almost blinded by the intense heat aVid fumes, but had the presence of mind to turn on the oxygen supply. The air rushing through the large holes caused bv the projectile made the bomb comnartment an inferno, and all the aluminium sheet metal of the floor of this airman's cockpit melted away, leaving only the crossbearers. Sergeant Hannah, his face and eyes burned, succeeded in extinguishing the fire. He crawled forward, ascertained that the navigator had left the aircraft, and passed the latter's logs and maps to the pilot. This airman displayed courage, coolness, and devotion to duty of the highest order, and by his action enabled the pilot to bring the aircraft safely to its base. Sergeant Hannah was born in Paisley, and was. a boot company salesman before joining the R.A.F. in 1939. AWARD FOR NEW ZEALANDER LONDON, Sept. 27. (Received Sept. 29, at 7 p.m.) Pilot-officer Frank Henderson Denton, of Greymouth, has been awarded the D.F.C. The citation says he showed great resource and daring in successfully attacking 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 his target in the Ruhr owing to severe weather, he decided to attack, the docks and shipping at Flushing. He broke through cloud at 1000 feet and despite a devastating curtain of fire, released his bombs at an altitude so low that the force of the explosions rocketed his plane hundreds of feet. ' He saw large fires and explosions, and brought his plane back to his base with gaping holes in each wing. Pilot-officer Denton has participated in 24 major bombing raids. He is a determined and courageous captain, and he carries the complete confidence of his crew and associates./ Pilot-officer C. "A,"a. Connor, a Canadian, was awarded the D.PiC. for piloting a damaged Hampden bomber to its base following an attack on barge concentrations at Antwerp on the night of September 115, states an Air Ministry bulletin. His wireless operator and air gunner during this attack was Sergeant John Hannah, who received the V.C.