▁this ▁period , ▁B ren nan ▁was ▁awarded ▁the ▁Dist ingu ished ▁F lying ▁Cross . ▁The ▁notification ▁of ▁the ▁decor ation ▁was ▁published ▁in ▁a ▁supp lement ▁to ▁the ▁London ▁Gazette ▁on ▁ 6 ▁October ▁ 1 9 4 2 . ▁ ▁Later ▁war ▁service ▁and ▁death ▁Emb ark ing ▁from ▁Mal ta ▁during ▁July ▁ 1 9 4 2 , ▁B ren nan ▁returned ▁to ▁the ▁United ▁Kingdom ▁and ▁was ▁posted ▁to ▁No .   5 2 ▁Oper ational ▁Training ▁Unit ▁as ▁an ▁instruct or ▁with ▁the ▁rank ▁of ▁acting ▁flight ▁lieutenant . ▁During ▁this ▁period , ▁B ren nan ▁and ▁fellow ▁No .   2 4 9 ▁Squadron ▁pilot , ▁Pil ot ▁Officer ▁Raymond ▁H ess ely n , ▁collabor ated ▁with ▁journalist ▁Henry ▁B ates on ▁on ▁writing ▁Sp it f ires ▁over ▁Mal ta , ▁a ▁novel ▁rel ating ▁the ▁experiences ▁of ▁B ren nan ▁and ▁H ess ely n ▁during ▁their ▁time ▁on ▁Mal ta . ▁On ▁ 1 7 ▁April ▁ 1 9 4 3 , ▁B ren nan ▁was ▁rep atri ated ▁from ▁the ▁United ▁Kingdom ▁and ▁returned ▁to ▁Australia . ▁ ▁Ar riv ing ▁back ▁in ▁Australia , ▁B ren nan ▁was ▁posted ▁to ▁the ▁newly ▁raised ▁No .   7 9 ▁Squadron , ▁based ▁at ▁La ver ton , ▁Victoria , ▁on ▁ 1 ▁May ▁ 1 9 4 3 . ▁Later ▁that ▁month , ▁the ▁squad ron ▁was ▁ordered ▁to ▁deploy ▁to ▁Good en ough ▁Island , ▁near ▁New ▁Guinea . ▁During