Oct. 26] THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE 1285

EQUIPMENT BRANCH, SECTION I: EQUIPMENT OFFICERS

Relinquishment

Flying Officer John Douglas MACKINVEN is permitted to relinquish his temporary commission. Dated 22nd September, 1944.

ADMINISTRATIVE AND SPECIAL DUTIES BRANCH

Promotions

Flying Officer (temp.) Reginald Gustav LUND to be Acting Flight Lieutenant (paid). Dated 1st September, 1944.

Works Section—

Flying Officer Eliot Orton SINCLAIR to be Flight Lieutenant (temp.). Dated 19th October, 1944.

Relinquishments

Flight Lieutenant Eliot Orton SINCLAIR is permitted to relinquish his temporary commission. Dated 20th October, 1944.

Flying Officer Colin Marshall GORDON is permitted to relinquish his temporary commission. Dated 23rd September, 1944.

NEW ZEALAND WOMEN’S AUXILIARY AIR FORCE

Relinquishments

The undermentioned officers are permitted to relinquish their temporary commissions :—

Dated 29th September 1944 : Assistant Section Officer Audrey Edith KEMP.

Dated 3rd October, 1944 : Assistant Section Officer Amie Durie KEILLER.

ADMINISTRATIVE AND SPECIAL DUTIES BRANCH, SECTION II (A.T.C.)

Appointment

Douglas Sidney CLAY is granted an Air Training Corps Commission in the rank of Pilot Officer. Dated 1st May, 1944.

Relinquishments

The undermentioned officers are permitted to relinquish their Air Training Corps Commissions :—

Dated 30th September, 1944—

Flight Lieutenant William Watson DUFF.

Flying Officer Leslie ROWNTREE.

Flying Officer Martin Rocke O’SHEA.

RESERVE OF AIR FORCE OFFICERS

Transfers

The undermentioned officers are transferred from the Active List to the Reserve of Air Force Officers, Class A, Section I :—

Dated 13th September, 1944 : Flying Officer Cyril Stanley DENT.

Dated 22nd September, 1944 : Flying Officer Clifford James HOWLETT.

Dated 23rd September, 1944 : Flying Officer Francis Archibald MCDOWALL.

Dated 25th September, 1944 : Flying Officer William Michael SELLAR.

Dated 30th September, 1944 : Flying Officer Leonard Bertie TAYLOR.

The undermentioned officers are transferred from the Active List to the Reserve of Air Force Officers, Class B, Section I :—

Dated 13th September, 1944 : Flight Lieutenant Frederick James MCDONALD.

Dated 18th September, 1944 : Flying Officer Robert James GRAHAM.

Dated 19th September, 1944 : Flying Officer Thomas Ernest FULLER.

Dated 23rd September, 1944 : Flying Officer Reginald Cains NORRIS.

Dated 26th September, 1944 : Pilot Officer Edward George HARMAN.

Dated 3rd October, 1944 : Flying Officer George GUY.

Dated 4th October, 1944—

Flying Officer George Baden POWELL.

Flying Officer Arnold George MUNYARD.

Dated 20th October, 1944 : Flying Officer Robert Thomas CHISON.

CORRIGENDA

In the notices appearing in the New Zealand Gazettes No. 91, dated 21st October, 1943, page 1230, under the heading “Administrative and Special Duties Branch—Appointments,” and No. 1, dated 13th January, 1944, page 8, under the heading “Administrative and Special Duties Branch—Promotions,” for “Louis Peter Henry NIELSEN,” read “Louis Peter Henry NIELSEN.”

F. JONES, Minister of Defence.

Operational Honours and Awards approved by His Majesty the King

Office of the Minister of Defence,
Wellington, 26th September, 1944.

HIS Majesty the King has been graciously pleased to approve the following immediate appointment, in recognition of gallantry and devotion to duty in air operations against the enemy :—

To be a Companion of the Distinguished Service Order

Acting Flight Lieutenant Richard Stansfield Derek Kearns, D.F.C., D.F.M. (NZ 405572), Royal New Zealand Air Force, of Reefton.

Throughout a long tour of operational duty Flight Lieutenant Kearns has displayed exceptional determination and courage. Since being awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross he has completed very many sorties against heavily-defended objectives in Germany. His consistent good work has resulted in much damage to the enemy, and his skill and leadership have been an inspiration to all.

His Majesty the King has been graciously pleased to approve the following awards, in recognition of gallantry and devotion to duty :—

Distinguished Flying Cross

Acting Flight Lieutenant Erle Thomas Brough (NZ 412197), Royal New Zealand Air Force, of Otago.

Flying Officer William Pembroke Bell (NZ 421006), Royal New Zealand Air Force, of Havelock North.

Flying Officer Douglas James Naismith Gibson (NZ 411881), Royal New Zealand Air Force, of Wanganui.

Acting Flying Officer Charles Edward Ansley (NZ 422094), Royal New Zealand Air Force, of Christchurch.

Distinguished Flying Cross

29th September, 1944

Squadron Leader Theodore Jasper MacLean de Lange (NZ 1060), Royal New Zealand Air Force, of Auckland.

Flight Lieutenant Hubert Cameron Carter (NZ 403942), Royal New Zealand Air Force, of Auckland.

Flight Lieutenant Robert Francis Hoyle (NZ 404368), Royal New Zealand Air Force, of Auckland.

Flight Lieutenant Hugh Noel James (NZ 391357), Royal New Zealand Air Force, of Gisborne.

Acting Flight Lieutenant Arthur George Stanley (NZ 415792), Royal New Zealand Air Force, of Auckland.

Military Medal

NZ 403361 Corporal Leslie Vincent Yates, Royal New Zealand Air Force, of Palmerston North.

Distinguished Flying Medal

NZ 413465 Flying Officer (formerly Flight Sergeant) Ian Marshall Page, Royal New Zealand Air Force, of Wanganui.

NZ 421031 Warrant Officer John Edwards, Royal New Zealand Air Force, of Invercargill.

F. JONES, Minister of Defence.

Operational Awards approved by His Majesty the King

Office of the Minister of Defence,
Wellington, 8th September, 1944.

HIS Majesty the King has been graciously pleased to approve the following immediate awards, in recognition of gallantry and devotion to duty in air operations against the enemy :—

Distinguished Flying Cross

Flight Lieutenant Charles Albert Fountaine (NZ 402862), Royal New Zealand Air Force, of Feilding.

A cunningly-concealed enemy target of major importance on New Britain, well-protected by anti-aircraft guns, was located, bombed, and damaged by this officer early in his latest tour of duty in February, 1944. Specially instructed to find the target, which had been causing some concern, Flight Lieutenant Fountaine succeeded, and on his first run apparently took the enemy by surprise, as there was no fire from the ground. He made two more runs, however, through strong defensive fire, and pressed home his attacks in a most courageous manner. His skilful flying brought his crew through without injuries, though the aircraft was holed in several places. Flight Lieutenant Fountaine is a most experienced, willing, and reliable captain, who has completed 159 operational sorties involving 680 flying hours. He has consistently displayed outstanding qualities of courage, leadership, and devotion to duty.

Flying Officer Alan Rodger Walker (NZ 416561), Royal New Zealand Air Force, of Wanganui.

Wounded in the arm when his aircraft suffered two damaging hits by 20 mm. anti-aircraft shells during a ground-strafing attack on enemy positions in northern New Britain, Flying Officer Walker was obliged to ditch his aircraft in St. George’s Channel, between New Britain and New Ireland, on 17th June, 1944. He was rescued, returned to base, and had his wound treated, and two days later led his section back to the same area, making a series of determined attacks against gun positions and personnel, and destroying six Japanese trucks. This conduct was typical of Flying Officer Walker’s attitude throughout three tours of duty, in which he flew one hundred sorties extending over 296 hours. His operational flying has been marked by the utmost courage, enthusiasm, and devotion to duty, and he is credited with destroying one enemy fighter.

F. JONES, Minister of Defence.