Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Flight Lieutenant

Unit:

No. 240 Squadron, Royal Air Force

Awarded on:

April 24th, 1942

Citation:
"As captain of aircraft and navigator respectively, Flight Lieutenant Hawkins and Pilot Officer Wright recently carried out an extremely important mission. The flight, which was one of twenty-four and three-quarter hours' duration, necessitated flying more than 2,000 miles across the sea. That completion was achieved despite adverse weather and intense cold can be attributed to the skilful piloting of Flight Lieutenant Hawkins, combined with the brilliant navigation of Pilot Officer Wright. Throughout, both these officers showed great powers of endurance and their outstanding performance is worthy of the highest praise."

The reconnaissance was carried out in a Catalina of No240 Squadron piloted by F/Lt. Hawkins on the 4 and 5 April in the extremely severe conditions of bad icing on the aircraft and with velocities over Spitzbergen of between 80 and 120 mph.
The information indicated that no enemy forces were in Spitzbergen and that prevailing conditions would permit ships of the sealing type to penetrate the drift ice and reach Icefjord by the beginning of May.

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Flight Lieutenant

Unit:

No. 240 Squadron, Royal Air Force

Awarded on:

November 10th, 1942

Citation:
"Flt. Lt. Hawkins is employed as captain of Catalina aircraft. In June , 1942, he pressed home a heavy attack on a submarine in the face of heavy defensive fire. After releasing his bombs, he machine-gunned the submarine's crew and silenced the forward gun. The submarine submerged but, soon after, it re-surfaced and remained stationa/y. Its crew came up on deck and surrendeied. Later the submarine sank by the stern."

LG 35777/4868 (10 November 1942).
Second DFC awarded in the form of a bar to be worn on the ribbon of the first DFC.