GEORGE MEDAL

Wairarapa Times-Age, 10 March 1941, Page 6

GEORGE MEDAL

NEW ZEALAND AIRMAN’S GALLANTRY RESCUE OF GUNNER FROM BURNING PLANE. AFTER A CRASH LANDING. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) WELLINGTON. This Day. According to advice received by Air Headquarters this morning another New Zealander serving with the R.A.F. has been decorated for gallantry. He is Pilot Officer John Tregonwell Davison, Christchurch, who has been awarded the George Medal. This is the third George Medal awarded to a New Zealander. Previous awards were to Pilot Officer D. T. Herrick and Sergeant E. A. Stratton for their gallantry at the time of an aircraft accident at Taieri on June 21 last. Pilot Officer Davison was born in Ashburton and is 27 years of age. His next of kin is his mother, Mrs N. A. Davison, Wairarapa Terrace, Christchurch. Pilot Officer Davison was the pilot of an aircraft which took part in a bombing attack on two heavily armed merchant vessels. During the action he was wounded in the foot and thigh but succeeded in flying his aircraft back to its base. Owing to severe damage sustained by the hydraulic gear it was necessary to make'a crash landing, the pilot not knowing that' a bomb remained on the rack. The bomb exploded on landing and severely wounded the rear gunner and set fire to the aircraft. Pilot Officer Davison and his observer jumped clear but then discovered that the rear gunner was Sim in lhe aircraft , Re g ardless ol the fire and the likelihood that the! petrol tanks might explode, they sue-1 ceeded in extricating the wounded gunner and dragging him to safety By their courage and gallantry the pilot and observer undoubtedly saved the life of the gunner. Educated at the Christchurch Boys’ I High School, Pilot Officer Davison was I selected for a short service commission just before the outbreak of war and after training at Taieri and Wigram left New Zealand in the middle of last year.