Flying
Officer D.E. Garland and Sergeant T. Gray
As
Bomber Command’s first
winners of the VC, Garland
was the pilot and Gray the
navigator of a single-engine
Battle aircraft leading a
vital formation attack on
12th May 1940, against heavy
anti-aircraft fire and fighter
opposition which cost them
their lives.
Flight
Lieutenant R.A.B. Learoyd
Despite
seeing every preceding
aircraft hit, he flew at
150 feet through the fiercest
anti-aircraft fire, attacked
the target and brought
his crew and nearly-wrecked
Hampden aircraft back to
base.
Sergeant
J. Hannah
Badly
burned as he fought fires
that melted the floor of
his Hampden bomber beneath
him, his courage ensured
the survival of his aircraft
which was bombing German
invasion barges at the height
of the Battle of Britain.
Wing
Commander H.I. Edwards, D.F.C.
Although
physically handicapped from
a previous accident, he led
his Blenheim squadron on
numerous low-level daylight
raids against heavily defended
targets at enormous risk.
Sergeant
J.A. Ward (Royal New Zealand Air Force)
In
an act of breathtaking heroism,
he climbed out onto the wing
of his Wellington bomber
and extinguished a fire,
thus saving his aircraft
which managed to return safely
home.
Squadron
Leader J.D. Nettleton
He
led one of two formations
of Lancasters on a daring
and extremely dangerous low-level
daylight raid to Augsburg,
deep in Southern Germany.
Successfully bombing despite
appalling losses, his was
the only aircraft to return.
Flying
Officer L.T. Manser
Determined
to save his crew from the
enemy, he stayed at the controls
of his damaged Manchester
aircraft, at the cost of
his own life, so his comrades
could parachute to safety.
Flight
Sergeant R.H. Middleton
(Royal Australian Air Force)
Despite appalling
injuries to his face, he flew his Stirling bomber
back over the Alps and enabled most of his crew
to bale out over England before he crashed into
the sea.
Wing
Commander H.G. Malcolm
Knowing
his raid was vital to army
operations, he led his Blenheim
squadron without fighter
escort on a successful attack – aware
they were almost certain
to be overwhelmed by enemy
fighters.
Wing
Commander G.P. Gibson, D.S.O., D.F.C.
One
of the most famous squadron
commanders of the war, his
leadership and courage ensured
the success of the legendary
Dambusters Raid.
Flight
Sergeant A.L. Aaron, D.F.C.
Fatally
injured by a fighter attack
on his Stirling aircraft,
he nevertheless managed to
direct his surviving crew
to a safe landing.
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Flight
Lieutenant W. Reid
Badly wounded
on the way to the target, with dead and injured
crew, he pressed on, bombed accurately and
got his aircraft home.
Pilot
Officer C.J. Barton
Despite
repeated fighter attacks
which damaged his Halifax
aircraft, he single-handedly
bombed the target then brought
his wounded crewmen home
at the cost of his own life.
Wing
Commander G.L. Cheshire, D.S.O., D.F.C.
He
had completed 100 missions,
personally leading his
squadron, pioneering new
techniques and always undertaking
the most dangerous and
difficult tasks. One of
the most outstanding and
respected airmen of the
war.
Flight
Sergeant G. Thompson
In
a completely selfless act,
he rescued two wounded comrades
from their gun turrets through
flames so intense he later
died from his burns.
Squadron
Leader R.A.M. Palmer, D.F.C.
After
completing 110 missions,
he led a formation of Lancasters
to Cologne. With two engines
ablaze he marked the target
perfectly for the following
bombers – then spiraled
down in flames.
Captain
E. Swales, D.F.C. (South African Air Force)
Twice
attacked by a fighter and
with two engines out, he
remained over the target
giving instructions to other
bombers. Over friendly territory,
he held his Lancaster steady
whilst his crew baled out
- then was killed as the
aircraft crashed.
Squadron
Leader I.W. Bazalgette, D.F.C.
Struggling
to control his burning Lancaster,
he accurately marked the
target for the main force
then died trying to save
his wounded crew.
Sergeant
N.C. Jackson
Although
wounded by a fighter attack,
in an act of astonishing
bravery he crawled out onto
the wing of his burning Lancaster
to try to extinguish the
flames before being swept
into the night.
Squadron
L.H. Trent, D.F.C.
(Royal New Zealand Air Force)
Leading 11 Ventura
aircraft on a daylight raid, he bombed the target
accurately in a display of outstanding leadership,
despite intense fighter attack resulting in the
loss of every bomber.
Squadron
Leader A.S.K. Scarf
In
a lone surviving Blenheim
bomber he attacked an enemy
fighter base – provoking
fierce fighter opposition
that led to him being mortally
wounded, though his skillful
airmanship ensured his crew
survived.
Pilot
Officer A.C. Mynarski (Royal Canadian Air Force)
With
his Lancaster bomber ablaze
and the order given to abandon
the aircraft, he was badly
burned trying desperately
to rescue the rear gunner
and died soon after baling
out. The rear gunner survived.
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