Bruce Wallace AWMM

Donnelly AWMM

B. W. Donnelly AWMM

• Vietnam 81959 AWMM
• L81959 AWMM

Male AWMM

26 July 1946 Ministry for Culture and Heritage Opotiki, Bay of Plenty Ministry for Culture and Heritage

Commercial pilot/Civilian AWMM

Vietnam War, 1961-1975 AWMM

Air Force AWMM

• Vietnam 81959 AWMM
• L81959 AWMM

• Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC) AWMM
  1970 AWMM
  CITATION Flying Officer Donnelly, RNZAF, has completed an operational tour of duty in the Republic of Vietnam on attachment to the 25th United States Infantry Division. On 7th December 1969 while serving as a Forward Air Control pilot with 2 Brigade, Flying Officer Donnelly distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous actions above and beyond the normal call of duty. While on an aerial surveillance mission in the Hobo Woods, a light observation helicopter he was working with made contact with several North Vietnamese soldiers. Flying Officer Donnelly immediately reacted by rolling in on the target and engaging it with machine-gun and rocket fire, which enabled the helicopter to break contact. While the light observation helicopter performed a battle damage assessment and called for artillery, he summoned an air strike. Upon arrival of the fighters, he selectively marked the confirmed enemy locations constantly exposing himself to enemy fire. Primarily through his exceptional control of the fighters and accuracy in marking and firing on the positions, he was able to neutralise the enemy location. As the airmobile insertion forces which were called earlier, approached the landing zone, they began receiving small arms and automatic weapons fire some 500 metres away from the primary target. Again without regard to his safety, he piloted his aircraft directly towards the position suppressing the enemy and allowing the aircraft and ground force to complete the insertion without sustaining damage or casualties. Flying Officer Donnelly’s determination contributed immeasurably to the success of the mission, he is directly credited with killing one North Vietnamese during the action, and his superb flying skill and rapid assessment of the tactical situation aided significantly in attaining a final North Vietnamese body count of thirteen. Flying Officer Donnelly’s coolness in the face of extreme danger, his willingness to sacrifice all for his mission and his comrades, were in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and refle AWMM
• New Zealand Operational Service Medal AWMM
• Vietnam Medal AWMM

13 January 1965 AWMM

Vietnam Flying Officer/Military Ministry for Culture and Heritage Attached United States Air Force AWMM Royal New Zealand Air Force AWMM

• Flight Lieutenant/Military Death Notice

11 April 2013 Ministry for Culture and Heritage
Whangaparoa, New Zealand AWMM

66yrs Public - Lorraine Mona - Researcher - 29 June 2023 - Purewa Cemetery Records

PUREWA CEMETERY, AUCKLAND Public - Lorraine Mona - Researcher - 29 June 2023 - Purewa Cemetery Records

DONNELLY, Bruce Wallace. DFC 81959 RNZAF Flt Lt Air NZ Captain (Ret). Bruce passed away peacefully at the Hibiscus Hospice on 11th April 2013. Dearly loved husband and best friend of Anne. Much loved father to his proud children, Claire, Alisdair, Sophia, Jess and the late Reigan; and a proud grandad to Georgia and Lucas. Loved son of the late Ted and Jean; loved and admired brother, brother-in-law and uncle to Lynsey, Mike and his nieces and nephews. A Service for Bruce will be held at the All Saints Chapel, Purewa Crematorium Public - Lorraine Mona - Researcher - 29 June 2023 - https://notices.nzherald.co.nz/nz/obituaries/nzherald-nz/name/bruce-donnelly-obituary?id=40250176

• New Zealand's Vietnam War Veterans. Personal page
  http://www.vietnamwar.govt.nz/veteran/fg-off-bw-donnelly
  Sources Used
• Memories of New Zealand and the Vietnam War. New Zealand History online website.
  http://www.vietnamwar.govt.nz/
  Further Reference
• Australia's Vietnam War
  https://vietnam.unsw.adfa.edu.au/
  Further Reference

• Subritsky, M. (Ed). (1995). The Vietnam scrapbook: The second ANZAC adventure. Papakura, N.Z.: Three Feathers Publishing Co. AWMM
• Hall, C. (2014). No front line : inside stories of New Zealand's Vietnam War. Auckland, New Zealand : Penguin Books. AWMM
• This record was created from data kindly provided by the New Zealand Ministry for Culture and Heritage. AWMM