DAVIS, Maurice Keith
| Service Number: | 19033 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 30 May 1940 |
| Last Rank: | Flying Officer |
| Last Unit: | Not yet discovered |
| Born: | Birchip, Victoria, Australia, 31 August 1920 |
| Home Town: | Birchip, Buloke, Victoria |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Assistant Electrical Engineer |
| Memorials: |
World War 2 Service
| 30 May 1940: | Enlisted Royal Australian Air Force, Flying Officer, 19033 | |
|---|---|---|
| 7 Dec 1945: | Discharged Royal Australian Air Force, Flying Officer, 19033 | |
| Date unknown: | Involvement Royal Air Force |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Deb Robinson
Judged 1944 Bravest Deed
GROUP CAPTAIN JAMES ALEXANDER 37. R.A.A.F. saved
FLIGHT SERGEANT GLYNNE B. STANDRING 20. R.A.F.
SERGEANT MAURICE K. DAVIS 24 R.A.F.
Owing to an impending gale F/O Oakley with Sergeants Standing and Davis were detailed to do emergency duty on an aircraft moored in the Sound.
A gale of 65 m.b.p. had developed and a fishing vessel dragged anchor and driven before the wind smashed into the nose and port mainplane of the aircraft.
In disengaging the aircraft was damaged and a call for assistance was sent out.
A pinnace set out but owing to the abnormal conditions was unable to get near the aircraft. At 5.30 a.m. the crew were ordered to slip the moorings which was accomplished with great difficulty owing to buffeting waves which were breaking over the cockpit. On leaving the buoy a second ship crashed into the starboard mainplane collapsing the starboard float. To balance the plane the crew of three crawled out onto the port wing. Oakley was washed away by a large wave. It was now 6.0 a.m. and still very dark.
There were very jagged rocks in the vicinity and Standring and Davis decided to jump, in an attempt to reach the pinnace. They jumped both wearing heavy clothing, Davis wearing an inflated “Mae West” and Standring being unable to inflate his. Visibility was practically nil and after previous strain both were in serious difficulties.
Group Captain Alexander, seeing this, jumped from the pinnace fully clad and wearing a deflated “Mae West”, swam 50 yards reaching Davis. Supporting him, he then swam to Standring and kept them both afloat until the pinnace manoeuvred into position and picked them up in an extremely exhausted state.
Oakley, Standring & Davis were all young Australians.