Received Sunday, p.m LONDON, Jan. 27. Mortally wounded, Warrant Officer John Horan, of Auckland, rear gunner of a reconnaissance Sea Otter off the Burma coast, struggled to his feet, his jammed guns against his cheat, and continued the battle against six Japanese planes. Horan’s left hand had been shot off, but he thrust the navigator, Flight-Sergeant J. A. Lawson, of Auckland, aside to reach the guns. The Sea Otter’s engine caught fire, the instrument panel was shattered, the flaps were shot away, the tail was ablaze and Japanese bullets were ripping through the fuselage. The Japanese attacked three times. Horan was again wounded in the head, but his fire did not falter and he was still firing when the pilot beached the plane. Horan died soon afterwards. Spitfires intercepted the Japanese attackers, shooting down five. Horan's widow and infant child are living in England.

MANAWATU TIMES, VOLUME 70, ISSUE 24, 29 JANUARY 1945, PAGE 5