AIRMAN’S DEATH

Wairarapa Times-Age, 31 May 1943, Page 2

AIRMAN’S DEATH

SERGEANT PILOT P. M. GAWITH. SHORTLY AFTER RECEIVING D.F.M. The many friends of Mr and Mrs A. C. Gawith, of Longbush, will regret to hear that their third son, Sergeant Pilot Peter Masters Gawith, D.F.M., who was reported missing in July, 1942, is now officially presumed to have lost his life.

The late Sergeant Pilot Gawith, who was 23 years of age, was educated at the College Street School, Palmerston North and at Nelson College. For a time he was working on Mr lan Balfour’s property, “Bute,” Tinui. Joining the Royal New Zealand Air Force in 1940 he received his early training in this country and later completed his course in Canada. He was then posted to a night-fighter squadron in England, taking up operational flights in September, 1941.

Only a few weeks before he was posted as missing in July, 1942, he was awarded the Distinguished Flying Medal. The official citation stated that he had completed many day and night operations and had taken part in successful intruder operations against the enemy in Germany and German-occu-pied. territory. He showed great keenness to engage the enemy and had destroyed two aircraft and damaged two others and by his courage and initiative had set an excellent example.