Award Bar to D.F.C. F/Lt. D.S.G. Honor, D.F.C. No. 274 Squadron (Crete)

Award Bar to Distinguished Flying Cross Flight Lieutenant Dudley Sandry Garton HONOR, D.F.C. (40113), No. 274 Squadron.

On the afternoon of 25th May 1941, his Mk. I Hurricane (W9266) and that of F/Lt Hugh Down were attacking the aerodrome at Maleme, Crete. Down’s plane was hit but Honor shot down an Italian SM79 and a German JU52 before being attacked by a Bf 110 and then a Bf 109. His plane crashed into the sea, sinking some forty feet, but because he was wearing a German self inflatable life jacket, he was able to reach the surface. After a four hour swim he managed to drag himself onto the rocks. He was found by Cretan peasants and a party of Greek soldiers and after six days in hiding was rescued by a passing RAF Sunderland that saw him signalling from his pocket torch. The Sunderland pilot said it was a million to one chance that he was spotted, they were looking for Major General Weston and his staff, with Honor giving directions down the coast, they located the General at Sfakia on about the 31st May.

Dudley Sandry Garton Honor was born, to British parents, on September 5th 1913 at Quilmes, Buenos Aires, Argentina, where he was educated. He was one of 600 volunteers from Argentina who came to fight with the RAF and RCAF. Awards: DSO, DFC & Bar He died on the 26th December 2007 aged 94








Battle of Britain London Monument - F/O D S G HONOR (bbm.org.uk)

 

The Scotsman 5th June 1941

 

Dundee Courier 5th June 1941

 

Aircrew Remembered: Aviation Obituaries from London Daily Telegraph

 

Does anybody know if he was interviewed at all for any publications? Particularly interested in his Battle of France period. He only gets one line in Norman Franks 'Valiant Wings'.

 

The other pilot Honor bumped into was Sgt. George Murray Kerr, 274 Squadron Hurricane I W9266 was shot down day after Honor 26th May and captured 7th June 1941.