Elder, Wilfred Eric

Date of birth:: August 30th, 1912 (Gore/Southland, New Zeland)
Date of death:: July 13th, 2001 (Gore/Southland, New Zeland)
Service number:: NZ.416101
Nationality:: New Zealander

Biography

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Distinguished Flying Medal (DFM)

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:: Flight Sergeant
Unit:: No. 76 Squadron, Royal Air Force
Awarded on:: July 16th, 1943

"This airman was the captain and pilot of an aircraft which was detailed to attack Krefeld one night in June, 1943. On the outward flight, 1 engine of the bomber became unserviceable but, despite this, Flight Sergeant Elder continued to the target and pressed home a determined attack, afterwards flying the aircraft back to base. This airman displayed great skill and tenacity throughout, setting an inspiring example."

Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC)

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:: Pilot Officer
Unit:: No. 76 Squadron, Royal Air Force
Awarded on:: November 16th, 1943

It's probable that he received his DFC for bringing back a crippled Halifax with one member of his crew dead and two wounded after a raid on Hamburg with the No. 76 Squadron. Elder ordered the unwounded members of his crew to bale out (they landed safely) because of the possibility that his plane would crash-land. Then, he straped the badly injured rear gunner in the rest position and, together with the injured engineer, helped the Halix landing on the grass outside the runway. The Halifax jumped a ditch, went trough a fence and was eventually stopped by some tree stumps, wich teared off the port engines.