Wumb. 36693

FIFTH SUPPLEMENT TO The London Gazette Of TUESDAY, the $th of SEPTEMBER, '1944 by Registered as a FRIDAY, 8 SEPTEMBER, 1944

Air Ministry, Sth September, 1944. cover, he dived well below the range of the light batteries before releasing his marker- The KING 'has been graciously pleased to bombs, and he came very near to ibeing confer the on the under- destroyed by the strong barrage which con- mentioned officer in recognition of most con- centrated on him. spicuous bravery: — During his fourth tour which ended in July, Geoffrey Leonard , 1944, Wing Commander Cheshire led his D.S.O., D.F.C. (72021), squadron personally on every occasion, Volunteer Reserve, 617 Squadron. always undertaking the most dangerous and This officer began his operational career difficult task of marking the target alone from in June, 1940. Against strongly-defended a low level in the face of strong defences. targets he soon displayed the courage and Whig Commander Cheshire's cold and cal- determination of an exceptional leader. He culated acceptance of risks is exemplified by was always ready to accept extra risks to his conduct in an. attack on in April, ensure success. Defying the. formidable Ruhr 1944. This was an experimental attack to defences, he frequently released his bomlbs test out the new method of target marking at from "below 2,000 feet. Over Cologne in low level against a heavily-defended target November, 1940, a shell burst inside his situated deep in Reich territory. Munich aircraft, blowing out one side and starting a was selected, at Wing Commander Cheshire's fire; undeterred, he went on to bomb his request, because of the formidable nature of target. About this time, he carried out a its light anti-aircraft and searchlight defences. number of convoy, patrols in addition to his He was obliged to follow, in bad weather, a bombing missions. direct route which took him over the de- At the end of his first tour of operational fences of Augsburg and thereafter he was duty in January, 1941, he immediately vol- continuously under fire. As' he reached the unteered for a second. Again, he pressed target, flares were .being released by our home his attacks with the utmost gallantry. high-flying aircraft. He was illuminated from Berlin, Bremen, Cologne, Duisberg, Essen above and below. All guns within range and Kiel were among the heavily-defended opened fire on him. Diving to 700 feet, he targets which he attacked. When he was dropped his markers with great precision and posted for' instructional duties in January, began to climb away. So blinding were the 1942, he undertook four more operational searchlights that he almost lost control. He missions. then flew over the city at 1,000 feet to assess He started a third operational tour in the accuracy of his work and direct other August,. 1942, when he was given command aircraft. His own was badly hit by shell of a squadron. He led the squadron with fragments but he continued to fly over the outstanding skill* on a number of missions target area until he was satisfied that, he . before Ibeing 'appointed in March, 1943, as had done all in his power to ensure success. a station commander. Eventually, when he set course for base, In October, 1943, he'undertook a fourth the task of disengaging himself from the operational tour, relinquishing the rank of defences proved even more hazardous than at his own request so that the approach., For a full twelve minutes after he could again take part in operations. He leaving the target'area he was under wither- immediately set to work as the pioneer of a ing fire but he came safely through. new method of marking enemy targets in- Wing Commander Cheshire has now com- volving very low flying. In."June, -1944, pleted a total *of roo missions. In four years when marking a target in the harbour at ,Le of fighting against 'the bitterest opposition Havre in broad daylight and without cloud he has maintained a record of. outstanding