GALLANT AUSTRAL FLYER.

Taihape Daily Times, Issue 220, 10 May 1917, Page 5

GALLANT AUSTRAL FLYER.

RECOMMENDED FOR V.C,

•LONDON, April 24,

The Australian flying squadrons in Egypt arc winning high praise. Lieutenant Frank Macnamara, a young Melbourne flyer, is recommended for the Victoria Cross. He was sent with another airman 00 miles to destroy a railway and prevent the coming up of reinforcements to Gaza. Macnamara descended low and dropped two bombs on the railway. A troops train approached and stopped. Macnamara, at a height of a hundred foot, flew up and down the train, using his machine-gun and hitting many soldiers, causing a stampede. He was heavily fired at and wounded. As tie flow he saw the accompanying aeroplane aground, and went to the airman ’s assistance. He smashed Ms own machine landing, owing to his wounds, and found the observer wounded and the pilot unconscious. He lifted the pilot beside the observer, burnt his own machine, started the other, and departed. The whole performance was under fire. The Turks had reached within 500 yards of him when he ascended. He went into hospital at Alexandria. There arc .124 Australian officers flying.