Pilot Officer Awarded The Distinguished Flying Cross 

Among a number of awards approved by the King is the Distinguished Flying Cross to Pilot Officer Roland Frederick Leonard Tong, Royal Air Force, Volunteer Reserve, No. 57 Squadron.

Born in Bromley in 1917, he is the son of Mr and Mrs P.C. Tong, S, Upper Park Road, and an Old Boy of the county School, Hayes Lane.

Afterwards he was on the staff of the West Minister Bank (Lower Sloane Street branch).  He enlisted in June 1940, and was commissioned in April 1941.

Since July 1941, Pilot Officer Tong has participated in numerous sorties, and he has acted as captain of aircraft on most of them.  Undeterred by adverse weather conditions or enemy opposition, he has displayed great determination in pressing home his attacks, often from a low attitude.

In September 1941, Pilot Officer Tong bombed an objective in Berlin in the face of extremely heavy defensive fire.  He flew safely back to this country, and made a successful landing in appalling weather conditions.

The honour of the D.F.C. is richly deserved.

Pilot Officer Tong, is tall, Keen and agile, with an unruffled temperament, just the type of man required for the Bomber Command.  Naturally his parents are proud of him, and so are all his old school mates and other friends in the town.

He is a good athlete, gymnast, lawn tennis and badminton player.

When he was at the Boys’ County School he won the cross-country race at the school sports.  He was a member of the Bromley Gymnastic club, and of the Wendover Lawn Tennis Club.

Pilot Officer Tong is 24 years of age and his fiancée is Miss K. P. Humphreys, of Gravesend.