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Award Citations

Distinguished Flying Cross

Flying Officer MULLENS was posted to No. 22 (Intruder) Squadron on the 18th June, 1942, and in the course of his operational flying with this unit has displayed outstandingly aggressive qualities in many operations against the enemy.

As a member of a flight which, without a navigator or D/F aids, flew through rain and cloud in icing conditions for over an hour to reach the target, Flying Officer MULLENS was most successful in locating and bombing a line of S.S.F. fighters from 500 feet in the face of heavy anti-aircraft fire and searchlights.

This officer has displayed great dash in more than twenty night intruder bombing strikes against heavily defended aerodromes in New Guinea, Holland and occupied France. He has constantly operated successfully throughout the foul flying weather experienced in a tropical wet season, made even more difficult by two flights across the Owen Stanley Ranges for each strike.

On one occasion he was detailed to bomb, from low level, dispersed enemy aircraft on the east side of Lae Strip. Under heavy A/A fire from all sides he withheld his bombs and executed a circuit target before releasing. His aircraft was hit and an explosive shell shattered the side of the instrument panel wounding him in the right hand and the right side of the face. Despite loss of blood, he accurately bombed and strafed his target and returned his aircraft safely to base.

In all tasks allotted to him Flying Officer MULLENS has, by sheer determination and ability, reached the target and successfully engaged it, returning his aircraft safely to base when others have been forced to turn back. He has shown outstanding powers of endurance and determination.

Archival Material

National Archives of Australia

Series No.	Control Symbol	Item Title	Digitised Item	Item ID
A9300	MULLENS P C	MULLENS PHILIP COURTNEY : Service Number - 402249 : Date of birth - 01 Jun 1915 : Place of birth - LONDON ENGLAND : Place of enlistment - SYDNEY : Next of Kin - MULLENS BONNETTIE		5251321

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