AWARDED D.S.O.

Wairarapa Times-Age, 26 May 1943, Page 4

AWARDED D.S.O.

WING COMMANDER DEERE

RECOGNITION OF FINE QUALITIES.

AS FIGHTER PILOT & LEADER

(By Telegraph—Press Association —Copyright) ’ (Received This Day, 11.50 a.m.) LONDON. May 24.

Wing Commander Alan Deere, Wanganui, D.F.C. and Bar, has been awarded the D.S.O. This is a further and deserved recognition of his fine qualities*'both as a fighter pilot and loader. His career is one of the most colourful of any New Zealand fightei pilot, while his leadership is proved by the fact that in the few weeks since he has been leading a wing at Biggin Hill it has added 29 to its score of enemy planes destroyed, the total now standing at 1.016, Wing Commander Deere shooting down one enemy plane and damaging others. Pilot Officer F. Murphy, Wellington, who has been awarded the D.F.C., has the distinction of winning the first decoration for a New Zealand Typhoon squadron.

TRIPLE DECORATIONS WON BY NEW ZEALAND AIRMEN. AIR DEPARTMENT LIST. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) WELLINGTON. This Day. New Zealand airmen who have distinguished themselves overseas by receiving triple service awards now number eight. A complete list now supplied by the Air Department is as follows:— Group Captain A. McKee, D. 5.0., A.F.C., D.F.C. Wing Commander H. N. G. Rams-bottom-Isherwood, A.F.C., D.F.C., Order of Lenin. Wing Commander E. P. Wells, D. 5.0., D.F.C. and Bar. Flight Lieutenant J. F. Barron, DSO.. D.F.C., D.F.M. Wing Commander S. Elsworthy, D. 5.0.,. A.F.C.. D.F.C. Acting Squadron Leader M. A. Ensor, D. 5.0., D.F.C. and Bar. Wing Commander T. O. Freeman, D. 5.0., D.F.C. and Bar. Wing Commander P. G. Jameson, D. 5.0.. D.F.C. and Bar.

As may be seen from the preceding cablegram Wing Commander Alan Deere has now qualified for inclusion in the above list, making the present total nine.