THE PRO PATRIA PROJECT
MONKS William James Stanley
NZ404922, Flight Lieutenant, Royal New Zealand Air Force

CITATION
Distinguished Flying Cross
(26 Sep 1945): A widely experienced operational pilot who was a member of the first RNZAF squadron on Guadalcanal.  Flight Lieutenant MONKS
has on three occasions, brought his aircraft and crew safely home in most difficult circumstances. He has throughout shown courage and devotion to
duty of a high order, and has completed 110 operational missions in the South and South-West Pacific areas. A motor failure occurred 100 miles at
sea on Flight Lieutenant MONKS's second tour, but he showed expert airmanship and returned safely. Shortly afterwards when on a bombing and
low level photography mission against the Japanese airstrip at Kieta, he had one engine put out of action by enemy fire, but again displayed skill and
courage and returned on one motor. There was a similar occurrence over Bougainville on his most recent tour, enemy fire damaging one engine and
the fuselage during a low-level attack on Japanese positions at Bania Harbour, but again Flight Lieutenant Monks brought his aircraft home. These
incidents have been typical of his operational career, and have contributed to the high reputation he holds.  Flew one tour with 3 Sqn (Hudson), then
three on Venturas with 2 and 4 Sqns RNZAF.






KNOWN AWARDS
Distinguished Flying Cross
1939-45 Star
Pacific Star
Defence Medal
War Service Medal 1939-45
New Zealand War Service Medal

NOTES
Born 6 June 1915, Napier, New Zealand
Died 30 May 2005, Auckland, New Zealand