Rank:

Flying Officer

Unit:

No. 53 Squadron, Royal Air Force

Awarded on:

September 10th, 1948

Awarded for:

Operation Vittles

"As a navigator who joined Transport Command in June 1946, this officer was posted to No.31 Squadron in India. There he did valuable work on the evacuation of Service personnel and British civilians from that country at the time of the creation of the Dominions of Pakistan and India. He also carried out many sorties in transferring Nationals to their respective countries. He returned to the United Kingdom in 1948 and joined No.53 Squadron in which he carried out transport schedule and special flights to the Middle East and Western Europe. He obtained a Transport Command “B” Category and his work in the air was characterised by the cheerful and efficient manner in which it was executed . In June 1948 this officer was included in one of the original Dakota crew who carried the first loads into Berlin before any other aircraft were available. Flying first from Wunsdorf and then from Fassberg and Lubeck he has completed 113 sorties to date, some of which have been carried out in the worst possible weather for navigation, both by day and by night. This officer’s first-class work and perfect crew cooperation have ensure the safety of the flights. His skill as a navigator and the calm, steadfast judgement with which he has resolved the difficult situations which have confronted him, together with his consistently high standard of courage, enthusiasm and skill, have been an inspiration and guide to the other air crews and his cooperation with his captain has been a shining example of unbreakable [?]team spirit."