EPIC EXPLOIT

Wairarapa Times-Age, 2 November 1943, Page 4

EPIC EXPLOIT

NEW ZEALAND AIRMAN AWARDED V.C.

MASTERLY ATTACK MADE ON U-BOAT.

AFTER PLANE WAS CRIPPLED

(By Telegraph—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, This Day.

The King has been graciously pleased to confer the Victoria Cross on Flying Officer Lloyd Allan Trigg, D.F.C., a member of the.R.N.Z.A.F., announced the Minister of Defence, Mr F. Jones, today, who added that he regretted to say that as a result of the gallant action for which Flying Officer Trigg was awarded this high honour, it is believed he lost his life together with four other gallant New Zealanders, who Were his crew. The citation accompanying the award states: Flying Officer Trigg had rendered outstanding services on convoy escort and anti-submarine duties. He had completed 46 operational sorties and invariably displayed skill and courage of a very high order.” The citation continues: “One day in August 1943, Flying Officer Trigg undertook, as captain and pilot, a patrol in a Liberator bomber, although he had not previously made any operational sorties in that type of aircraft. After searching for eight hours the Liberator sighted a surfaced U-boat and Flying Officer Trigg immediately prepared to attack. During the approach the aircraft received many hits from the submarine’s anti-aircraft guns and burst into flames which quickly enveloped the tail. The moment was critical and Flying Officer Trigg could have broken off the engagement and made a forced landing in the sea but if he continued the attack the aircraft would present a nodeflection target to deadly anti-aircraft fire and every second spent ’in the air would increase the extent and intensity of the flames and diminish his chances of survival. There could have been no hesitation or doubt in his mind. He maintained his course in spite of the already precarious condition of his aircraft and executed a masterly attack. Skimming over the U-boat at less than fifty feet, with antiaircraft fire entering his opened bombdoors, Flying Officer Trigg dropped his bombs on and around the U-boat, where they exploded with devastating effect. A short distance further on the Liberator dived into the sea with her gallant captain and crew. The U-boat sank within twenty minutes. Some of her crew were picked up later in a rubber dinghy that had broken loose from the Liberator. The battle of the Atlantic yielded many fine stories of air attacks on underwater craft, but Flying Officer Trigg’s exploit stands out as an epic of grim determination and high courage. His was the path of duty that leads to glory,” concludes the citation.

Mr Jones, on behalf of the Government and people of New Zealand, conveyed his warmest congratulations to Mrs N. B. Trigg, Hamua, on the high honour won by her gallant husband and deep regret that as the result of his bravery he is believed to have sacrificed his life. The four other New Zealanders in the aircraft were: Flying Officer I. Marinovich, Auckland; Temporary Flight Sergeant T. J. Soper, Takaka; Temporary Flight Sergeant A. G. Bennett, Wellington, and Temporary Flight Sergeant L. J. Frost, Auckland, together with a' Canadian and two members of the R.A.F.