Complex sentence: He shot down two 109s of JG 3 on 17 August 1943, and received the Distinguished Flying Cross in October for his "great skill, courage and keenness" in downing 17 aircraft.
Split into simpler sentences: He shot down two 109s of JG 3 on 17 August 1943. He received the Distinguished Flying Cross in October for his "great skill, courage and keenness" in downing 17 aircraft.