NETTLETON’S V.C.

Wairarapa Times-Age, 18 May 1942, Page 2

NETTLETON’S V.C.

PRESENTED BY THE KING. LEADERSHIP IN AUGSBURG RAID. (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, May 16. Squadron Leader John Nettleton, of the R.A.F., has received, the V.C. at Buckingham Palace for gallantry in the recent raid on Augsburg. He was the leader of one of two formations of heavy bombers detailed to deliver a low-level daylight attack on the Diesel engine factory at Augsburg on April 17. It was a daring enterprise and one by one his aircraft were shot down, but with great spirit he held his two remaining aircraft on their perilous course, mostly at only 50 feet above the ground and dropped his bombs true on the target. His other aircraft was then hit and made a crash landing, byt his own aircraft, riddled with holes, flew back to its base—the only one of the six to return. The King also decorated with the George Cross Corporal V. Hollowday, of the R.A.F.. who displayed amazing courage and initiative on two occasions in July and August 1940, in attempts to rescue the crews iof two aircraft which had crashed and were burning.