AWARDS TO AIRMEN

Wairarapa Times-Age, 30 June 1941, Page 6

AWARDS TO AIRMEN

DISTINGUISHED FLYING CROSS PILOT OFFICERS J. W. SIEVERS AND J. R. ANDERSON, FORMER SINCE POSTED MISSING. (Bj’ Telegraph—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, This Day. Advice has been received by Air Headquarters. Wellington, that the Distinguished Flying Cross has been awarded to two more New Zealanders. They are: —

Pilot Officer James Robert Anderson. Mrs G. A. Corkin, 232 Selwyn Street, Christchurch (m). Pilot Officer John Winstone Sievers. Mr S. J. Sievers, 27 Brassey Road. Wanganui (f). Pilot Officer Anderson was born in September, 1915, and was educated at the Christchurch Technical School and Canterbury College. He left New Zealand early in 1940 after completing his training in New Zealand.

Pilot Officer Sievers was born in April, 1918, and was educated at St. Patrick’s College, Silverstream, He was given his early flying training as a member of the Wairarapa and Ruahine Aero Club, and left New Zealand in March, 1940. for service overseas. Mr S. J. Sievers said last night that he had just received advice from the Air Ministry in London that his son was missing as the result of air operations on June 26. Pilot Officer Sievers was well known in Masterton, where he was a member of the staff of the Public Trust Office and was prominent in sport.

OFFICIAL CITATION (Received This Day, 10.30 a.m.) LONDON, June 29. The citation to the awards to Pilot Officers Sievers and Anderson states that Pilot Officer Sievers early in June captained an aircraft which daringly attacked Brest, despite an intense antiaircraft fire from the ground and from ships, descended to 4500 feet, and skilfully dropped the plane’s bombs on the target area. Previously Pilot Officer Sievers, while over Hamburg and held in searchlights, skilfully enabled his rear-gunner to shoot down a Messerschmitt. He has also shown great skill and coolness during many operational flights over enemy-occupied territory. Pilot Officer Anderson captained an aircraft participating in a low-level attack on Brest. At first the target could not be identified. Despite a balloon barrage, Pilot Officer Anderson remained over the target for half an hour until visibility improved, when he made a successful attack. Pilot Officer Anderson dived from 3000 feet to 900 feet, facing an intense anti-aircraft fire. Eight searchlights were extinguished. He displayed the utmost determination and skill on numerous operational flights.