AIR FORCE AWARDS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24417, 1 October 1940, Page 9

AIR FORCE AWARDS

DISTINGUISHED FLYING CROSS PILOT-OFFICER DENTON’S CAREER (Per United Press Association) WELLINGTON, Sept, 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, where he 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. He was 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 1000 feet and through a devastating curtain of fire released his bombs from an altitude so lov) 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.’ - D.F.C. AND PROMOTION FLYING-OFFICER E. W. TACON Mrs E. R. Tacon, of Hastings, received last week the Distinguished Flying Cross with which her son. Pilotofficer E. W. Tacon. was decorated and later advice of his promotion to be flying-officer. The citation accompanying the award stated that two officers, Pilot-officers Tacon and G. Edwards, a Canadian, while flying together, acting as pilot and navigator alternately, made most daring reconnaissance flights in search of a German cruiser. They attacked three flagships and scored many hits in the face of heavy anti-aircraft fire. A few days later they made a reconnaissance of Haugesund and took photographs from a height of 50 feet. On the following day they made a reconnaissance of Frederickshaven and flew so low over the harbour that in the moonlight they were able to make sure that a warship for which thev were searching was not there. Flying-officer Tacon is the second son of Mr and Mrs Tacon. He joined the Royal New Zealand Air Force in July, 1938 being a trainee of the Hawke’s Bay-East Coast Aero Club under the Civil Reserve scheme. In April last year he went to England.