GALLANT FLIERS

Waikato Times, Volume 129, Issue 21584, 21 November 1941, Page 5

GALLANT FLIERS

NEW ZEALAND PILOTS AWARD OF HONOURS COURAGE AND COOLNESS (United Tress Assn.—Elec. Tel. Copyrignt) (Received Nov. 21, 11.5 a.m.) LONDON, Nov. 20 Pilot-Officers Timothy John Wilder Williams and Eric Clarence Cox, of the Royal New Zealand Air Force, have been awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross. The citations state that since June Pilot-Officer Williams has participated in 28 operational sorties. He is a fearless pilot .and always displays the utmost determination to reach and bomb the objective. One night in September he failed to receive the general recall signal and was one of the few who succeeded in reaching Berlin, where he penetrated into the centre of the city, released his bombs over the target area, and flew back safely. Pilot-Officer Cox’s outstanding ability was so marked that after two operational missions as second pilot he was promoted captain of the aircraft. He displayed splendid leadership at all times and pressed home attacks with the utmost vigour in the face of enemy opposition and bad weather. Many times the intensity of the enemy barrage forced him away from the target, but he always returned again and again to the attack, until finally he succeeded.' Pilot-Officer Cox throughout has shown real tactical ability in the final staging of his attacks, only equalled by the thoroughness of his pre-flight preparation. Sergeants Honoured Sergeant Kynaston John Stanford and Sergeant Francis Charles Sergent were awarded the Distinguished Flying Medal. The citations state that Sergeant Stanford in July was captain of a plane participating in a daylight attack against the battleship Gneisenau at Brest. Throughout the attack, in the face of intense and accurate anti-aircraft fire, he flew in close formation with his leader, presenting such a determined front that the enemy fighters did not dare to attack.

Sergeant Stanford has always carried out his operations in the most courageous and resolute manner, pressing home attacks from low altitudes despite enemy opposition. His keenness and cheerfulness have set an excellent example. One night in July Sergeant Sergent was rear gunner of a plane participating in a successful attack against Duisberg. The plane was on its homeward journey over Venlo when attacked from' astern by a Messerschmitt 110. With great coolness in face of the enemy’s intense cannon and machine-gun fire, Sergeant Sergent withheld fire until the enemy was at close range, when he delivered a long accurate burst, causing the enemy plane to dive towards the ground, crash and burst into flames. Sergeant Sergent’s cheerfulness and courage under the most trying conditions were an inspiration to all. Airmen’s Next-of-Kin

Following are the next-of-kin of the airmen:—Pilot-Officer Cox, father Mr C. D. Cok, Lambton Road, Napier; Pilot-Officer Williams, mother Mrs M. M. Williams, Atup, Hastings; Sergeant Sergent, mother Mrs I. Sergent, 198 Hanson Street, Wellington; Sergeant Stanford, father Mr J. R. Stanford, High Street, Marton. TURKEY DETERMINED BALKANS MUST BE FREE GERMAN PEACE OFFENSIVE (United Press Assn.—Eleo. Tel, Copyright) (Received Nov. 21, 11.30 a.m.) ISTANBUL, Nov. 20 The newspaper Tan, in rebuffing a German peace offensive, states that Turkey will only consent to act as mediator if the Balkans are free. No peace can be established upon the basis of Europe as it is today. ENEMY SHIPS HIT SUCCESS OF SUBMARINES SCHOONER SET ABLAZE (Official Wireless) (Received Nov. 21, 11.40 a.m.) RUGBY, Nov. 20 An Admiralty communique states: Further successful attacks have been cax’ried out by our submarines against enemy supplies in the Mediterranean. The Italian tanker Tampico, of 4958 tons, has been torpedoed and seriously damaged. This ship was afterwards seen to be very deep in the water. A medium-sized German supplyship, which was heavily laden and south-bound with two escorts, has been torpedoed and almost certainly sunk. It is considered that one of the escorts was also hit. A schooner which probably was carrying petrol has been set ablaze by gunfire.

APOLOGIES SENT M. LITVINOFF DELAYED uomcia'. Wireless) (Received Nov. 21, 11.40 a.m.) RUGBY, Nov. 20 Questioned regarding the incident by which ihe departure of M. Litvinoff and party by plane from Iran was delayed, the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs said: “This morning I received a report from our Minister at Teheran, from which it appears that there has been an unfortunate misunderstanding as the result of which the departure of M. Litvinoff and party was delayed. The exact circumstances are still beng investigated by the Minister, who .t once sent personal apologies to M. Litvinoff and to the Soviet Ambassa- ; dor. 1 am glad to have this oppor- ! tunity of saying how much His I Majesty’s Government regrets this unfortunate discourtesy.”