US Navy Cross ARMSTRONG, JOHN MALET Citation: The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to John Malet Armstrong, Commodore 2d Class, Royal Australian Navy, for extraordinary heroism and distinguished service in action as Commanding Officer of HMAS AUSTRALIA during the capture of Lingayen Gulf and the landing on Luzon, Philippine Islands from 6 January to 9 January 1945. Although the AUSTRALIA was heavily hit, suffering heavy casualties and the disablement of a large portion of her anti aircraft guns and radar system, Captain Armstrong maintained her assigned station and carried out her bombardment missions. Commonwealth of Australia Gazette 15 May 1947, p. 1325 Home Town: Australia BAND, JOHN MOREL Citation: The President of the United States takes pride in presenting the Navy Cross (Posthumously) to John Morel Band, Lieutenant Commander, Royal Australian Naval Voluntary Reserve, for extraordinary heroism in action against the enemy, as Officer in Charge of the Naval Beach Party that landed at Japanese occupied Finschafen on 22 September 1943. Lieutenant Commander Band landed with the first wave in face of heavy enemy machine gun and mortar fire. In absolute disregard for his own safety he repeatedly exposed himself in efforts to execute successfully the task that had been assigned him, and in doing so, was mortally wounded. Demonstrating tenacious courage, he continued to direct his group and was successful in diverting one group of landing craft which were about to land on the wrong beach in the face of heavy enemy opposition. As the result of his wounds he fell unconscious on the beach and was returned to a field hospital where he died. His daring leadership and devotion to duty contributed to the successful completion of a vital mission. He gallantly gave his life in the service of his country. Commonwealth of Australia Gazette 21 June 1945, p. 1352 Home Town: Australia FARNCOMB, HAROLD BRUCE Citation: The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Harold Bruce Farncomb, Commodore, Royal Australian Navy, for extraordinary heroism and distinguished service in action as Commander, Royal Australian Squadron, during the capture of Lingayen Gulf and the landing on Luzon, Philippine Islands, from 6 January to 9 January, 1945. During this period, in which HMAS AUSTRALIA was hit four times by enemy planes and HMAS ARUNA seriously damaged, Commodore Farncomb displayed a high degree of courage, determination and professional skill. Home Town: Australia Navy Cross Awards to members of Foreign Allies in World War II
Distinguished Service Cross BLAMEY, JACK MURRAY Captain, Australian Imperial Force Date of Action: November 1942 Citation: The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Jack Murray Blamey, Captain, Royal Australian Imperial Forces, for extraordinary heroism in action in the Buna-Gona area of New Guinea during the month of November, 1942. Headquarters, Southwest Pacific, General Orders No. 54 (December 3, 1942) Home Town: Manly, New South Wales, Australia BLAMEY, SIR THOMAS General, Australian Army Commander, Allied Land Forces, Southwest Pacific Date of Action: July 23, 1942 - January 8, 1943 Citation: The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Sir Thomas Blamey, General, Royal Australian Army, for extraordinary heroism in action in New Guinea, during the Papuan Campaign, July 23, 1942, to January 8, 1943. As Commander, Allied Land Forces, Southwest Pacific Area, General Blarney displayed extraordinary courage, marked efficiency and precise execution of operations during the Papuan Campaign. Headquarters, Southwest Pacific, General Orders No. 5 (January 11, 1943) Home Town: Australia EARP, FREDERICK W. Flight Sergeant, Royal Australian Air Force 93d Bombardment Squadron, 19th Bombardment Group, U.S. Army Air Force (Attached) Date of Action: August 6 - 7, 1942 Citation: The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Frederick W. Earp, Flight Sergeant, Royal Australian Air Force, for extraordinary heroism in action between Queensland, Australia and Rabaul, New Britain, on August 6 -7, 1942. When the airplane, in which he was co-pilot, returned to its base in Queensland, Australia, from a bombing mission at Lae, New Guinea, because of a disabled engine, Flight Sergeant Earp, knowing that his group was to execute on the following day an important mission in which the participation of every available airplane was essential, volunteered to accompany his airplane commander on this mission in an airplane which had been declared unserviceable for combat duty. Rejoining his squadron at Port Moresby, New Guinea, after having flown almost continuously during the preceding nineteen hours, he took off, after only three hours rest, in a mass attack by his group on an enemy-occupied airdrome near Rabaul, New Britain. Despite interception by about thirty enemy fighters as the target was approached, the group made a highly successful bombing attack. During the hostile fighter action, the airplane in which Flight Sergeant Earp was a crew member, was on the wing which bore the brunt of the enemy attack lasting for twenty-five minutes. It was observed to drop a blazing bomb-bay tank and fall behind the formation. It did not return to its base. Headquarters, Southwest Pacific, General Orders No. 34 (September 15, 1942) Home Town: Penrith, New South Wales, Australia EATHER, KENNETH W. Brigadier, Australian Army Commander, 25th Infantry Brigade Date of Action: July 23, 1942 - January 9, 1943 Citation: The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Kenneth W. Eather, Brigadier, Royal Australian Army, for extraordinary heroism in action in New Guinea, during the Papuan campaign, July 23, 1942, to January 8, 1943. As Commander 25th Infantry Brigade, Australian Army, Brigadier Eather displayed extraordinary courage, marked efficiency and precise execution of operations during the Papuan campaign. Headquarters, Southwest Pacific, General Orders No. 5 (January 11, 1943) Home Town: Australia GARING, WILLIAM H. Group Captain, Royal Australian Air Force Commander, Number 9 Operational Group Date of Action: July 23, 1942 - January 8, 1943 Citation: The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to William H. Garing, Group Captain, Royal Australian Air Force, for extraordinary heroism in action in New Guinea, during the Papuan Campaign, July 23, 1942 to January 8, 1943. As Commander, Number 9 Operational Group, Royal Australian Air Force, Group Captain Garing displayed extraordinary courage, marked efficiency and precise execution of operations during the Papuan Campaign. Headquarters, Southwest Pacific, General Orders No. 5 (January 11, 1943) Home Town: Australia HENSTRIDGE, HECTOR D. Lieutenant, Australian Imperial Force 25th Liaison Squadron Date of Action: February 17 - March 12, 1944 Citation: The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Hector D. Henstridge, Lieutenant, Royal Australian Imperial Forces, for extraordinary heroism in action near Dumpu, New Guinea, from 17 February to 12 March 1944. Lieutenant Henstridge voluntarily descended by parachute into a jungle behind enemy lines to rescue an officer and a soldier of the United States Army Air Force. With full knowledge of the dangers of the jungle and of possible enemy patrols, he made his first parachute jump, after which he led his comrades to safety in a hazardous twenty-four day march. By his heroic action, Lieutenant Henstridge not only saved two lives, but in addition he contributed significantly to our knowledge of the territory through which he traveled. Home Town: Unley, Australia HERRING, EDMUND F. Lieutenant General, Australian Army Commander, New Guinea Force Date of Action: July 23, 1942 - January 8, 1943 Citation: The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Edmund F. Herring, Lieutenant General, Royal Australian Army, for extraordinary heroism in action in New Guinea, during the Papuan Campaign, July 23, 1942 to January 8, 1943. As Commander, New Guinea Force, Lieutenant General Herring displayed extraordinary courage, marked efficiency and precise execution of operations during the Papuan Campaign. Headquarters, Southwest Pacific, General Orders No. 5 (January 11, 1943) Home Town: Australia MACFARLAN, D. S. Paymaster-Lieutenant, Royal Australian Naval Voluntary Reserve Coast Watcher, Lunga Point, Guadalcanal Date of Action: May 1 - October 1, 1942 Citation: The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to D. S. MacFarlan, Paymaster-Lieutenant, Royal Australian Naval Voluntary Reserve, for extraordinary heroism in action in the Southwest Pacific Area during the period from May 1, 1942 to October 1, 1942. (A complete citation of the actions for which award to this officer is cannot be published at this time for reasons of a military secrecy). NOTE: No evidence of a subsequent complete citation is available. Paymaster-Lieutenant MacFarlan was a Coast Watcher (Project Ferdinand). He manned an outpost on Gold Ridge overlooking Lunga Point on Guadalcanal for the period specified in his citation, reporting daily on Japanese activity. Headquarters, Southwest Pacific, General Orders No. 41 (October 7, 1942) Home Town: Ashfield, New South Wales, Australia MASON, P. E. Petty Officer, Royal Australian Naval Voluntary Reserve Coast Watcher, Malabite Hill, Buin, Bogainville Date of Action: March 30 - October 1, 1942 Citation: The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to P. E. Mason, Petty Officer, Royal Australian Naval Voluntary Reserve, for extraordinary heroism in action in the Southwest Pacific Area during the period from March 30, 1942 to October 1, 1942. (A complete citation of the actions for which the award to this officer is made cannot be published at this time for reasons of military secrecy.) NOTE: No evidence of a subsequent complete citation is available. Petty Officer Mason was a Coast Watcher (Project Ferdinand). He manned an outpost on Malabite Hill overlooking Buin on Bogainville Island for the period specified in his citation, reporting daily on Japanese activity. Headquarters, Southwest Pacific, General Orders No. 41 (October 7, 1942) Home Town: Sydney, New South Wales, Australia MATHESON, DONALD G. Lieutenant Colonel, Australian Imperial Force Liaison Officer, G-3, II Island Command Date of Action: December 19 - 27, 1943 Citation: The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Donald G. Matheson, Lieutenant Colonel, Royal Australian Imperial Forces, for extraordinary heroism, during the period from December 19 to December 27, 1943, on Guadalcanal. Lieutenant Colonel Matheson volunteered to lead a patrol consisting of one other officer and four native scouts on a hazardous reconnaissance mission over a difficult mountain range. The patrol succeeded in locating several trails, each of which was scouted in order to select the best route over the mountains. While en route the patrol passed through and in the rear of the enemy lines, locating, among other things, the positions of some one thousand of the enemy. The area in which the enemy were located could not be reached by artillery or naval gun fire and was concealed from air observation. Consequently the position of this heavy concentration of enemy troops would not have been located had it not been for the efforts of this patrol. This, and much other valuable information obtained by the patrol, after traveling a distance of over ninety miles, were used later and aided greatly in the success of operations in the area. Headquarters, Southwest Pacific, General Orders No. 67 (March 20, 1943) Home Town: Perth, Australia OWEN, WILLIAM T. Lieutenant Colonel, Australian Military Force 39th Australian Infantry Battalion Date of Action: July 27, 1942 Citation: The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to William T. Owen, Lieutenant Colonel, Royal Australian Military Forces, for extraordinary heroism in action near Kokoda, New Guinea, on July 27, 1942. While commanding an infantry battalion, which was opposing the enemy advance, Lieutenant Colonel Owen, although facing far superior numbers of enemy troops, directed his men so effectively as to extract a heavy toll of the enemy forces and considerably delay their advance. His courageous and inspiring personal example was in great measure responsible for this vigorous opposition to the enemy attack. Lieutenant Colonel Owen was seriously wounded in this action and later died of his wounds. Headquarters, Southwest Pacific, General Orders No. 11 (January 22, 1943) Home Town: Melbourne, Victoria, Australia READ, J. W. Lieutenant, Royal Australian Naval Voluntary Reserve Coast Watcher, Buka Passage Date of Action: March 16 - October 1, 1942 Citation: The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to J. W. Read, Lieutenant, Royal Australian Naval Voluntary Reserve, for extraordinary heroism in action in the Southwest Pacific Area during the period from March 16, 1942 to October 1, 1942. (A complete citation of the actions for which the award to this officer is made cannot be published at this time for reasons of military secrecy). NOTE: No evidence of a subsequent complete citation is available. Lieutenant Read was a Coast Watcher (Project Ferdinand). He manned an outpost overlooking the Buka Passage on the north side of Bogainville Island for the period specified in his citation, reporting daily on Japanese air and ship activity. Headquarters, Southwest Pacific, General Orders No. 41 (October 7, 1942) Home Town: Dandenong, Victoria, Australia RHOADES, F. A. Sub-Lieutenant, Royal Australian Naval Voluntary Reserve Coast Watcher, Lavoro, Guadalcanal Date of Action: June 20 - October 1, 1942 Citation: The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to F. A. Rhoades, Sub-Lieutenant, Royal Australian Naval Volunteer Reserve, for extraordinary heroism in action in the Southwest Pacific Area, during the period from June 20, 1942 to October 1, 1942. (A complete citation of the actions for which the award to this officer is made cannot be published at this time for reasons of military secrecy.) NOTE: No evidence of a subsequent complete citation is available. Sub-Lieutenant Rhodes was a Coast Watcher (Project Ferdinand). He manned an outpost at Lavoro on Guadalcanal where he had previously manned a plantation, for the period specified in his citation, reporting daily on Japanese activity. Headquarters, Southwest Pacific, General Orders No. 41 (October 7, 1942) Home Town: Australia VASEY, GEORGE A. Major General, Australian Army Commander, 7th Division Date of Action: July 23, 1942 - January 8, 1943 Citation: The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to George A. Vasey, Major General, Royal Australian Army, for extraordinary heroism in action in New Guinea, during the Papuan Campaign, July 23, 1942 to January 8, 1943. As Commander, Seventh Division, Australian Army, Major General Vasey displayed extraordinary courage, marked efficiency and precise execution of operations during the Papuan Campaign. Headquarters, Southwest Pacific, General Orders No. 5 (January 11, 1943) Home Town: Australia VIAL, LEIGH H. Pilot Officer, Royal Australian Air Force Coast Watcher, Salamaua, New Guinea Date of Action: February 15 - August 13, 1942 Citation: The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Leigh H. Vial, Pilot Officer, Royal Australian Air Force, for extraordinary heroism in action in New Guinea during the period from February 15, 1942 to August 13, 1942. (A complete citation of the actions for which the award to this officer is made cannot be published at this time for reasons of military secrecy.) NOTE: No evidence of a subsequent complete citation is available. Pilot Officer Vial was a Coast Watcher (Project Ferdinand). He manned an outpost in the hills above the Salamaua airfield on New Guinea for the period specified in his citation, reporting daily on Japanese aircraft activity. Headquarters, Southwest Pacific, General Orders No. 33 (September 12, 1942) Home Town: Camberwell, Victoria, Australia WALKER, IAN W. Lieutenant, Australian Imperial Force 2/7 Battalion Date of Action: December 5, 1942 Citation: The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Ian W. Walker, Lieutenant, Royal Australian Imperial Forces, for extraordinary heroism in action near Buna, New Guinea, on December 5, 1942. During an attack on strongly held enemy positions in which a Bren Gun Carrier Section was put out of action, Lieutenant Walker went forward under heavy enemy fire to the disabled carriers, which were located about half way between the enemy and our own lines, to remove the guns and ammunition from the disabled carriers. After he had reached the first three carriers and removed the guns and ammunition, he ordered nearby gunners to keep up their fire and told the enlisted men, who had accompanied him, to return to our lines. Lieutenant Walker then went forward, armed with a submachine gun and under heavy enemy fire, in an attempt to reach a fourth gun carrier to save the guns and ammunition from it. He was mortally wounded during this action and died shortly after returning to our lines. Headquarters, Southwest Pacific, General Orders No. 7 (January 15, 1943) Home Town: Melbourne, Victoria, Australia WOOTEN, GEORGE F. Brigadier, Australian Army Commander, 18th Infantry Brigade Date of Action: July 23, 1942 - January 3, 1943 Citation: The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to George F. Wooten, Brigadier, Royal Australian Army, for extraordinary heroism in action in New Guinea, during the Papuan Campaign, July 23, 1942 to January 3, 1943 As Commander, 18th Infantry Brigade, Australian Army, Brigadier Wooten displayed extraordinary courage, marked efficiency and precise execution of operations during the Papuan Campaign. Headquarters, Southwest Pacific, General Orders No. 5 (January 11, 1943) Home Town: Australia www.homeofheroes.com/valor/books/foreign/foreign-australian.doc
Biographies of Australian Veterans Conferred Legion of Honour 2004 Hamilton Connolly DFC Buderim Pines, Queensland RAAF 1940–1945 Hamilton Connolly enlisted in the RAAF in September 1940. After operational training on heavy bombers in Britain he completed his first operational tour in early 1943 in 78 Squadron RAF and was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC) for skilful flying on this tour. On D-Day, he was the Commanding Officer of 466 Squadron RAAF, which dispatched 13 Halifax bombers as part of an attack on an artillery battery at Maisy, which threatened the Utah and Omaha beaches where American troops were to land. The squadron’s aircraft experienced a number of near misses while helping to reduce heavy fire against American forces when they began landing. After D-Day, he flew a further eight operations in support of Allied forces breaking out of the Normandy beachheads. He was awarded a Bar to the DFC in July 1944 for his part in an attack on a flying bomb site and was later also awarded the American DFC for extraordinary achievement in many attacks over heavily defended targets in Germany. He was discharged in 1945. No 77 Squadron Association Home Page Gotta walk the dog, back soon!
AWM Collection Record: MALTA0045 - Flying Officer James (Jim) Flemming receives his award of the American DFC and Air Medal from the US Ambassador, Mr Pete Jarman, at an investiture at RAAF Williamtown. AWM Collection Record: MALTA0025 - US Ambassador Mr Pete Jarman congratulates Flying Officer (FO) Lyall R Klaffer of Adelaide, SA, at a recent investiture. FO Klaffer has just received the American DFC and American Air Medal for ...
Hi All, I thought I should add this one as well. Cheers Owen AWM Collection Record: JK0204 - SERGEANT PHILLIP ZUPP OF NO. 77 SQUADRON RAAF BEING INVESTED WITH THE UNITED STATES AIR MEDAL BY COLONEL H.R. THYNG, USAF.
