GALLANTLY WON

Wairarapa Times-Age, 23 July 1941, Page 4

GALLANTLY WON

AUSTRALIAN AIRMAN’S V.C. DARING AND SUCCESSFUL ATTACK ON BREMEN. FORMIDABLE DEFENCES FACED IN DAYLIGHT. (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, July 21. The operation which gained the Australian airman, Acting Wing Commander H. I. Edwards, the Victoria Cross, is officially described as follows: “On July 4 he led an important attack on the port of Bremen, one of the most heavily defended towns in Germany. This attack had to be made in daylight, and there were no clouds to afford concealment. During the approach to the German coast several enemy ships were sighted, and Wing Commander Edwards knew that his aircraft would be reported and that the defences would be in readiness. Undaunted by this misfortune, lie brought his formation more than 50 miles overland to its target, flying at a height of a little more than 50 feet passing under high-tension cables, and carrying away telegraph wires, and finally passing through a formidable balloon "barrage. On reaching Bremen he met with a hail of fire, all his aircraft being hit and, four being destroyed. Nevertheless, he made a most successful attack, and then, with the greatest skill and coolness, withdrew the surviving aircraft without further loss.”

It is noted that Wing Commandei Edwards, though handicapped by a physical disability resulting from a flying accident, has repeatedly displayed gallantry of a high order in pressing home bombing attacks from a very low height against strongly defended objectives. Wing Commander Edwards gained the D.F.C. for an operation last month during which he attacked a ship in a convoy off the Dutch coast, releasing his bombs from mast height.