The recommendation was sent to the Air Ministry, but because the supporting evidence was insufficient at that time, it was deferred for further investigation when Carter and the rest of the surviving crew were repatriated from prisoner of war camps after the end of the war in Europe. It is not known if the crew were actually interviewed, but Watkins ultimately received only a posthumous Mention in Despatches, published in the London Gazette of 13 June 1946 (with effect from 20 December 1942). At the time, the VC and Mentions were the only military gallantry awards made posthumously.