'A nightmare scene in a blazing British" bomber over Cologne, is described in the latest list of RAF. awards, which includes the Distin ished Service Order to Pilot Oficer: Leonard Henry Cheshire and the Distinguished Flying Medal to Sergeant Henry Davidson, Captain and, Wireless Operator respectively of the photographie flare was about to be "dropped from the machine when It was detonated by a piece of antiaircraft shrapnel from the barrage through which the plane was flying.
There was a blinding explosion which blew out part of the fuselee of the plane, followed by a fire which 'AMled the interior of the aircraft and the pilot's cockpit with choking femes. During all this the intense anti-airercft fire from the German ground batteries continued, Cheshire regained control of the machine, which ad been losing height Gadly, and by a remarkable feat of navigation' succeeded in reaching the home aerodrome, in spite of the damage to the aircraft.
In the meantime, Davidson, who. wae badly" burned "and temporarily. blinded, persuaded the rear gunner to guide his burned fingers over the wireless controls as he called out the setting. This he continued until he realized that the wireless had been Ut out of action and was useless.
The Ust of RAF. awards also includes that of the Distinguished Flying Cross to Flight-Lieutenant Howard Blatchford. who was the leader the squadron. which destroyed eight and damaged five enemy aircrat in one day. Blatchford him-Self rammed a hostile fighter after his ammunition ran out—Reuter.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.