TWO AWARDS FOR AIRMEN

Southland Times, Issue 24828, 21 August 1942, Page 4

TWO AWARDS FOR AIRMEN

Operations In Far

East (P.A.) WELLINGTON, Aug. 20. The first awards made to New Zealand air personnel who have returned to this country from the Far East were announced by the Minister of Defence, the Hon. F. Jones, today. They are: — Distinguished Flying Cross—Flying Officer Robert Clifford Barclay. Distinguished Flying Medal. —Sergeant Herbert Keith Minton. Flying Officer Barclay, according to the citation, completed numerous bombing raids over enemy territory while serving in the Far East. In January of this year he attacked at extreme range enemy occupied aerodromes at Ipoh, despite bad weather. On the return trip he was compelled to land, in the jungle, but the skill with which he accomplished this undoubtedly saved the lives of three occupants of the aircraft. Later he took part in a raid on enemy shipping at Endau, ana although his air-gunner was killed when the aircraft was attacked by enemy fighters before reaching the target area, Flying Officer Barclay continued to fight and pressed home the attack in face of anti-aircraft fire. He was born in Dunedin and is aged 26. His father is Mr J. T. Barclay, Dunedin. He was granted a commission in the Royal New Zealand Air Force in 1941 and went to the Far East, where he served in a bomber squadron. He was reported missing in January last, but subsequently returned safe. He was among those evacuated to Australia, when he returned to New Zealand for flying duties. Sergeant Minton has also completed numerous raids over enemy territory in the Far East. During a daylight raid on enemy shipping at Endau in January he pressed home the attack in spite of enemy fighter interference and antiaircraft fire, obtaining four hits on a transport. He was born in Carterton, and is aged 28. His father is Mr J. H. Minton, Masterton. He joined the Royal New Zealand Air Force two years ago and went to the Far East, where he served in a bomber squadron. He was also reported missing in January, but returned safely. He was evacuated to Australia and. later returned to New Zealand, where he is now serving.