GALLANTLY WON
FIGHTING FRENCH PILOT’S DECORATIONS. A Fighting French pilot, little more than a lad when France collapsed, today only 21, has just had the Distinguished Flying Medal pinned to his vest by his British commander as he lay in bed in a hospital in the west of England.' He already has the Croix de Guerre. He hastened to join his British comrades when Petain, Darlan and Co. signed the Armistice with the Nazis. The citation for his D.F.M. states: “His enthusiasm, keenness to engage the enemy and zeal in pressing home attacks has been an inspiration to his fellow pilots.” Before pinning on the medal, Air Vice-Marshal A. H. Orlebar recalled that the young Frenchman had been on many sweeps over his own'country and had taken part in several attacks on enemy shipping. Following one of these attacks, he circled a Hurricane pilot who had been forced down into the sea and enabled him to be picked up safely. One morning in July, the Fighting French pilot shot down a Junkers' 88 into the sea and then flew his own damaged aircraft back to base and made a safe landing. The 21-year-old Fighting French pilot has just been given a commission.
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Wairarapa Times-Age, 22 February 1943, Page 3
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202GALLANTLY WON Wairarapa Times-Age, 22 February 1943, Page 3
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