GALLANT AIRMEN

Wairarapa Times-Age, 3 November 1939, Page 5

GALLANT AIRMEN

DECORATED BY THE KING BRAVE DEEDS ON ACTIVE SERVICE. HIS MAJESTY VISITS AIR STATIONS. Bv Tclcgrsph—Press Association—Copyright (Received This Day, 10.45 a.tn.) LONDON, November 2. Four Royal Air Force officers and one sergeant-pilot stood at a nangar “somewhere in England" while his Majesty the King pinned on decorations, for gallantry on active service. Their ages ranged from 21 to 26. The Distinguished Flying Cross was conferred on Acting-Flight Lieutenants T. M. Smith, J. Barrett and K. C. Doran, and on Flying-Officer A. McPherson. The Distinguished Flying Medal was conferred on Sergeant-Pilot W. Willits. Flight-Lieutenants Smith and Barrett rescued the crew of the merchant ship Kensington Court after she had been sunk by a Germa.", submarine. Flight-Lieutenant Doran led a successful attack on an enemy cruiser in September. Flying-Officer McPherson, who is aged 21. carried out a dangerous reconnaissance, resulting in a successful attack on enemy naval forces, details of which have already been cabled. Sergeant-Pilot Willits saved a plane and crew when the pilot was shot in Hit head, and collapsed at lhe controls during an air combat. He moved the body, obtained control at a low altitude and navigated the machine 140 miles to lhe base. . The ceremony marked the end of his Majesty's visit to air stations in Northern England, and the Midlands, in which he inspected coastal bomber ano fighter commands, saw pilots engaged in” war activity and heard stories m dangerous flights into enemy uwritorj and engagements with enemy planes.