Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

D.F.M. For Airman From Wasleys
Flight-Sgt. Henry Day has been awarded the Distinguished Flying Medal, according to advice received by his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Elliot Day, of Reeves Plains, near Wasleys. Although the citation has not yet been received, it is presumed that Flight-Sgt. Day received the award for his part after the pilot of the Halifax bomber in which he was navigator had been partially blinded and knocked unconscious over Duisburg. Germany, in October. The pilot Flight-Set. Cockerill, of Casino, New South Wales, recovered in time to pull the Halifax out of a dive, and then refused morphia because he felt that he alone was able to land the crew safely Day offered to try to land the plane, but Cockerill refused to leave his seat, and piloted the plane home through packs of enemy fighters. Day provided the instructions, which were relayed by another member of the crew, who sat beside Cockerill.
The pilot was later awarded the Distinguished Service Order, the first to be won by an Australian bomber squadron in England. Flight-Sgt. Day, who is 23. was educated at Reeves Plains. Gawler High School, and Roseworthy, where he won his diploma and the
Gramp-Hardy-Smith Memorial Prize. He first enlisted in the light horse, later joining the Royal Australian Air Force. He left Australia just over two years ago.