''The
Express'' reported recently that Pilot Officer J.K. Davis, the son of
Mr. P. Davis, of Parkside, Pontefract, had been awarded the
Distinguished Flying Medal. The Air Ministry News Service has now told
how the decoration was earned. R.A.F. light aircraft, operating on
forward strips and runways, hacked out of the jungle, have saved the
lives of many West African troops fighting in the remote reaches of the
River Kaladon, in Burma. Hundreds of wounded were carried in a matter of
minutes from the jungle battlefield to the comfort of British and Indian
hospitals - journeys which, had they been possible by land, would have
taken many days. The hazards of this work were recognised when the D.F.M.
was given to Flight Sergeant Davis, as he was then, and the D.F.C. to
Warrant Officer Cecil of Australia, who was later killed in a flying
accident.
The
story behind the work of these pilots began early last year, when the
West Africans made their advance along the Kaladan, and the evacuation
of the wounded became a problem. The answer lay in employing Tiger and
Fox Moth planes, modified to take stretcher cases. Small landing strips
in paddy fields or dry riverbeds were built - never more than a hundred
yards from the Japanese positions - and were almost continually under
mortar or machine gun fire. During engagements with the enemy, a call
would be sent back and the ambulance pilots would set out to pick up the
casualties. Though the return journey was little more than 50 miles, it
was mostly over enemy territory and 3,000 feet high hills. Pilot Officer
Davis and Warrant Officer Cecil flew an average of 10 hours a day to
evacuate the wounded, and Davis made over 100 sorties. During a
withdrawal, wounded still remained to be evacuated, and the pilots flew
in to pick them up until they were forced to stop shortly before the
enemy took possession of the strip. The pilots worked to get as many men
out of the jungle as humanly possible. No time was wasted and often,
improvised repairs were made to the aircraft to save time and on one
occasion Davis returned to base with a stretcher case with smoke pouring
from his plane. He was willing to fly a plane until the engine ran out,
and said as long as it will tick over and get him in the air, it would
be good enough for him. Many of the aircraft were damaged by ground fire
from the enemy, and at times the threat became so serious that fighter
aid was required to protect the rescue aircraft.
