SUPPLEMENT to the LONDON GAZETTE, 29 DECEMBER, 1942 to Attack a Target in the Ruhr

5636 SUPPLEMENT TO THE LONDON GAZETTE, 29 DECEMBER, 1942 to attack a target in the Ruhr. During the attack the fuselage collapsed. Sergeant Wade's prompt the aircraft was intercepted by an enemy air- and gallant action undoubtedly saved the wireless craft and sustained damage which Tendered it operator's life. ' impossible to release the flares. On arrival back at base the captain accomplished a successful 1101543 Corporal Stanley Banks, Royal Air Force. emergency landing, but unfortunately some of the Corporal Banks was second coxswain on a High flares ignited. Ammunition began to explode and Speed Launch on igth August, 1942. He showed the aircraft was set alight and was in great danger great coolness under fire and after the crew aban- of being blown up. Displaying complete disregard doned ship he swam around encouraging them for his own safety, Flight Sergeant Couchman and on at least two occasions inflated the life remained in the aircraft and assisted three mem- jackets of members of the crew who were too bers of the crew, two of whom were injured, to exhausted to help themselves. Corporal Banks safety. In so doing he was twice thrown on to has been in air/sea rescue launches since Feb- the flames when the floor collapsed, sustaining ruary, 1941, and has always been one of the severe burns, but it was largely due to his courage keenest airmen in his unit. and devotion to duty that his comrades were able to leave the aircraft safely. Can/R. 107072 Leading Aircraftman Howard Roy Carter, Royal Canadian Air Force. 937723 Flight Sergeant Peter William Hewitt, Royal One night hi September, 1942, an aircraft struck Air Force. a stores hut on an airfield and burst into flames. In June, 1942, Flight Sergeant Hewitt was the Leading Aircraftman Carter and another airman and pilot of a flying boat which crashed whilst who were working near by hastened to the scene alighting in a heavy swell, and sank. The crew of the crash and on arrival found that the perspex were in shark-infested waters, 180 miles from land, of the observer's astrodome was broken. Despite with one rubber dinghy and four life belts. The the fact that the front of the aircraft was burn- captain of the aircraft was injured, and the dinghy ing fiercely and the remaining petrol tanks were would support only two people. Flight Sergeant likely to explode, Carter climbed through the hole Hewitt, finding that one of the crew was drown- in the perspex in an endeavour to rescue the ing, managed to get him on to the damaged dinghy observer who was in the midde of the aircraft and spent the wliole of one night swimming along- and lying across the ammunition tanks. He had side, holding the man's head out of the water, some difficulty in raising the observer as a cord until he died. Even then Flight Sergeant Hewitt of the latter's helmet was wound round his face made strenuous efforts to effect resuscitations, to and caught by a projection in the aircraft, but his own detriment and exhaustion. Later, when Carter succeeded in freeing his comrade and in dinghies with food and water were dropped by an getting him under the astrodome. The other air- aircraft, Flight Sergeant Hewitt was the first to man .had, in the meantime, broken away pieces of swim out to collect those within range. The crew the perspex, and with his assistance Carter lifted were on the water for 70 hours before they were the observer out of the aircraft just as the rescued, and it was largely due to the magnificent ammunition began to explode. His courageous example of self-sacrifice and endurance of Flight action undoubtedly saved the observer's life. Sergeant Hewitt and his cheerfulness in spite of the apparently hopeless situation, that only one of 1331108 Leading Aircraftman Albert Dargue, Royal the crew was lost. When rescued he was in a Air Force. far worse physical condition than his companions. Leading Aircraftman Dargue was Nursing Orderly on a High Speed Launch during the com- 1206642 Flight Sergeant John Philp, Royal Air bined operations on igth. August, 1942. In spite Force. of wounds, he endeavoured to carry out first-aid Can/R 73037 Sergeant George Kenneth Reardon, to the wounded until he was picked up in a Royal Canadian Air Force. seriously wounded condition. The courage and 912925 Sergeant Louis Victor Fossleitner, Royal Air valuable services Tendered by Leading Aircraftman Force. Dargue are typical of the high qualities displayed Flight Sergeant Philp and Sergeants Reardon by the nursing orderlies, who have carried out and Fossleitner were captain, front gunner and hazardous operations in High Speed Launches navigator respectively of an aircraft which which play an essential part in air /sea rescue. attacked Munich one night in September, 1942. On the return flight the engineer reported that there 543864 Leading Aircraftman Arthur John Henry would only be sufficient spare fuel to operate for Hale, Royal Air Force. 15 minutes on arrival at base. Flight Sergeant 1211303 Leading Aircraftman Stephen Albert Stepto, Philp therefore obtained permission to land at a Royal Air Force. nearer airfield. When nearing the airfield, how- Leading Aircraftmen Hale and Stepto have been ever, one of the engines failed and it was necessary employed in an airfield clearance party at Malta . to descend on to the sea off the coast. Although for several months. They have both performed the aircraft was kept level, it broke in four parts their duties with the greatest zeal, often display- on impact with the water and these three airmen, ing complete disregard for their personal safety together with the wireless operator and the mid when clearing runways while heavy raids on the upper gunner, were thrown into the sea. Flight airfield have been in progress. They have set a Sergeant Philp, who is a strong swimmer, volun- magnificent example. teered to swim to shore alone to get help. He abandoned this intention, however, as it wap 1003857 Leading Aircraftman William Tames necessary to help the mid-upper gunner, and in Hitchcock, Royal Air Force. company with Sergeant Reardon, started to swim In May, 1942, a Wellington aircraft crashed in to shore, taking the mid-upper gunner with them. flames on a landing ground and the occupants They were picked up by a fishing boat after were killed. Leading Aircraftman Hitchcock dis- Swimming foi 3^ hours, but unfortunately the played outstanding courage in removing most of gunner was found to be dead. In the meantime, the bodies from the blazing wreckage. Again, in Sergeant Fossleitner, although badly shaken, had August, 1942, a Kittyhawk aircraft crashed in volunteered to remain behind on one of the wings flames on the same landing ground. Leading and support the wireless operator, whose spine was Aircraftman Hitchcock rushed from the fire tender fractured. He supported him for 2£ hours, until with a hose, disappeared into the flames and eventually both were picked up by an Air/Sea shortly reappeared carrying the body of the pilot. Rescue Launch. The courage and fortitude dis- With the assistance of another' member of the played by Flight Sergeant Philp and Sergeants crew, he managed to get the body clear of the Reardon and Fossleitner were of the highest order. burning wreckage. Leading Aircraftman Hitchcock has displayed the greatest courage and devotion I37959I Sergeant Eric Wade, Royal Air Force. to duty. One night in September, 1942, Sergeant Wade was taxying an aircraft, prior to taking off, when 1169787 Leading Aircraftmin Clifford James Jenkins, an aircraft crashed on the flare path and burst Royal Air Force. into flames. Three fuel tanks exploded, Verey 1331128 Aircraftman ist Class George Hogg cartridges and ammunition commenced to detonate Poppleton, Royal Air Force. and there was a danger of a fourth petrol tank These airmen are nursing orderlies, who have exploding. Sergeant Wade unhesitatingly entered always displayed the utmost courage and devotion the blazing fuselage and, finding the wireless to duty. One evening in October, 1942, they operator in a dazed condition, helped him to safety were on duty on an airfield with their ambulance just before the remaining petrol tank exploded and during a heavy air attack on Malta, when they.

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