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Aviation History
1943
1943 - 2172.PDF
268 FLIGHT SEPTEMBER 2ND, 1943 SERVICE AVIATION M.B.E. (Mil.)F/O. J. VEBNEV, RAFV.lt l)«e night in April, 1943. a Whitley aircraft crash landed andbunt into flames F/O Verney was thrown clear, but received superficial wounds on the face, headand legs, and Bartered Iroin shock. Sgt. Uongh managed to extricate himself from the rear turretand proceeded to the front of the aircraft, where he found the pilot and bomb-aimer lying togetherin the wreckage. The latter was on fire, bat was pulled to safety and passed to another memberof the crew by Sgt. Gough. This airman then re- turned to assiBt the pilot, who was pinned lromthe waist downwards. Ignoring his own safety, Hgt. Uottgh roads heroic attempts to release theEilot despite the (lames and ammaDitiOD which was lusting in the front turret He only desisted inhis efforts when his harness, flying suit and hair were burning. F/O. Verney, who was sufferingconsiderably, made several valiant attempts to go to the aid of Sgt. Qough, but became exhaustedby his efforts, and finally collapsed, being dragged away by another member of the crew, lie wastaken to a nearby residence, where he displayed commendable coolness and fortitude in making bisreport of the accident and in attending to the needs of the other survivors. Bar to Air Force Cross Fit. Lt. G. C. BKUNNEB, A.F.C.-In 1943, Fit.Lt. Brunner was engaged in testing an aircraft. During the flight serious trouble developed. Fit.Lt. Brunner took immediate remedial action, but, despite this, one of the engines commenced toemit large quantities of smoke and oil. A course wae set Jor base, but Smoke Started to enter thecockpit, and the airof&it enWre$ » steep dive. Efforts to rectify this were at first unavailing,but eventually partial control was regained alter much height had been lost, and Fit. Lt. Brunnersucceeded in leaching an airfield, lowered his under-carriage and landed successfully. Throughhis skill and courage, a valuable aircraft was saved from complete destruction, and this enabledthe cause of the failure to be ascertained. George Medal Fit. Sgt. D. M. COATES, R.C.A.F., No. 415(B.C.A,F.) Sqn.—In November, 1942, Fit. Sgt. Coates was the wireless operator/air gunner in anaircraft which crashed into a petrol dump and a lorry when landing after an arduous sortie overthe Bay of Biscay. The entire scene became an inferno of blazing petrol and exploding ammuni-tion, and there was imminent danger of the de- tonation of a torpedo which was in the aircraft.The navigator was pinned by the legs and unable to. free himself. Displaying great persistence andcomplete disregard for bis personal safety, Fit. get. Coates succeeded in extricating the navigator.He then went to the aid of the pilot, who was also pinned by the legs and unconscious, and en-deavoured to release him until his own face and wrists were too severely burned to permit him tocontinue. Throughout his heroic endeavours to release the pilot, Fit. Sgt. Coates faced the riskof sudden death. It was only when the intensity of the conflagration surp&saed human endurancethat he left the aircraft, and even then he assisted the navigator whom he had rescued tomove further away to safety. Sgt. 3. F. CLARK, No. 59 Sqn.—One night inMarch, 1943, Sgt. Clark was the wireless operator/ air gunner in a Fortress aircraft which crashedand caught fire on the top of a hill in conditions of poor visibility. Sgt. Clark and three other mem-bers or the crew escaped with minor injuries, and Spt. Clark realised that three further member* ofthe crew were in the wreckage- Deipite the blazing petrol tanks and the presenoe of explo-sives which he knew were in the aircraft, he im- mediately re entered the fuselage and, with theassistance of L.A/C. French, who had arrived at the scene alter having seen the flames from hisbedroom, dragged the three airmen from the wreckage. Some time afterwards an explosion oc-curred, shattering the aircraft and breaking glass a quarter of a mile away. Military Medal Set. J. BRADLEY, NO. 10 Sqn. Set. J. W. MACFMUUIME, No. 10 Bqii. Air Force Medal Fit. Sgt. J. H. COLLINS and Sgt. H. H.PARKER, both of No. 51 Sqn.—While returning from an operational sortie, the aircraft in whichFit. Sgt. Collins and But. Parker were flying as captain and bomb-aimer respectively, developed afault in one engine and was unable to gain height. On heading ont to sea the aircraft wasengaged by heavy anti-aircraft fire, the petrol tanks and a second engine were set on tire. Pre-parations were made to descend on the sea. While the aircraft was approaching the water, anotherhit was sustained, which killed the wireless opera- tor and severely wounded Sgt. Parker. Fit. Sgt.Collins succeeded in bringing the aircraft down on to the water, gaining time for the rest of thecrew to board the dinghy. Sgt. Parker continued his duties during the descent and helped in thetransfer of the crew before he informed his conv namgns of his wonnd. B.E.M. (Mil.) Sgt. P. GOUGH.—For citation see F/O. Verney,M B E L.A/C. A. FRENCH—For citation see Sgt. Clark,G.M. Sgt. A. BARRIE, NO. 51 Sqn.—One night in April,1943, a Blenheim aircraft crashed and bnrst into flames. The aircraft had been seen to dive bySgt. Barrie, who hnrried across fields to the scene three-quarters of a mile away, lie scrambled downa steep cutting to get to the aircraft, and as he reached it an explosion occurred which broke it intwo. He then gaw the pilot who was in the wreckage. Sgt. Barrie took off his own tunic and,after wrapping it round his head, entered the burning wreckage. He was able to drag the badlywounded pilot away to safety. Sgt. Barric then returned to the blazing wreckage and searchedfor other survivors until he was satisfied that there were no others who could Btill be alive. Hisunselfish heroism was responsible for saving the pilot's life.L.A/C. G. H. CHASTNET.—A Bisley aircraft, carrying mails, crashed when taking off, and imme-diately burst into flames. L.A/C. Chestney rushed to the scene of the accident and found the wire-less operator trapped in the burning wreckage. Displaying complete disregard for his own safetywhilst working for several minutes directly beneath a burning petrol tank which was liable to ex-Diode, he succeeded in releasing the wireless opera D.S.O. AND D.F.C. : Act. Wing Cdr. C. Patrick Green, D.F.C., has recent been awarded the D.S.O., and his observer, F/O. Gillies, the D.F.C. for outstandj|| skin and determination in air fighting over Sicily. In three successive nights destroyed seven enemy aircraft. tor. LA/C. Chestncy's courage and devotion toduty undoubtedly saved the airman's life. L.A/C. H. GARFOBTH and L.A/C. E. J. WHITE,both of No. 462 Sqn.—One night in April, 1943, a Wellington aircraft was returning from opera- •"tions and, when landing on the airfield, bombs which had not been released exploded, causing thebomber to disintegrate in flames. LA/C.s Gar- loith and 'White, who were on duty at the stationas ambulance driver and nursing orderly respec- tively, proceeded to the scene. L.A/C. Whiteimmediately went to the rear turret and succeeded in extricating the gunner, who was badly injuredand whose clothes were smouldering. In the meantime L.A/C. Garforth had prepared hie am-bulance and brought a stretcher up to the blazing wreckage. Their prompt action in entering thearea of the burning wreckage is worthy of nigh praise, and undoubtedly enabled them to save thelife 61 the air gunner. A/C.l C. G. B. KAPP.—In March, 1945, a Beau-fighter aircraft crashed. A/C. Kapp, who was on leave, lelt his house and was ths first W arriveat the scene. The aircraft was on fire and the pilot, who was injured, was trapped in the wreck-age by his parachute harness. Despite the fire and consequent risk from exploding petrol tanks,A/C. Kapp heroically persisted until ne succeeded in extricating the pilot, whose clothing had bythen caught fire. A/C.2 H. KA¥.—One afternoon in May, 1943,a Beaufighter aircraft crashed and caught fire when landing on an airfield. A/C. Kay immedi-ately drove his ambulance to the scene and en- deavoured to rescue the pilot, who was trappedand badly injured. As the heat was intense this airman put on his cap and coat and finally suc-ceeded in extricating the pilot; in so doing A/C. Kay sustained burns to his forehead. After receiv- ^ing treatment for the burns A/0. Kay returned ^ to his ambulance and took the injured pilot to v.~hospital. A/C.2 J. KENNEDY.—In March, 1943, a Welling-ton aircraft crashed on an airfield and caught fire. A/C. Kennedy, accompanied by two oUH'rmembers of his gun poet, immediately went to the scene of the accident. On arrival A/C. Kennedyclimbed on to the rear of the fuselage and, after breaking away the perspex of the rear gun turret,he succeeded in extricating the air gunner. A/C. Kennedy then went to the front of the aircraftand, assisted by his two comrades, succeeded in extricating another member of the crew who wasunconscious. By this time the aircraft was en- veloped in flames and A / C Kennedy was com-pelled to abandon his rescue efforts; this he did just before the starboard petrol tanks exploded.The courage and initiative displayed by this air- man undoubtedly saved two lives. Sgt. J. P. H. O'NEILL, NO. 158 Sqn.—Sgt. O'Neillwas captain and pilot of a Halifax aircraft carry- ing high explosive bombs and incendiaries whichcrashed and burst into flames shortly after taking off for an operational mission. Some members orthe crew were trapped in the blazing wreckage, and although Sgt. O'Neill was himself severelyinjured and burned and in a fainting condition through loss of bloorl, he resolutely refused toleave the scene of the accident. Disregarding his own injuries, he worked unsparingly, directing an.1helping civilians in an attempt to save others in the wreckage. Without thought for himself, hisefforts ceased only when he became unconscious. Awards of Foreign Decorations Royal Air Force THE KING has granted unrestricted permissionfor the wearing of the ur^deroientiouec' J|decorations conferred on the personnel indicate< >*g- m recognition of valuable services rendered inconnection with the war : — Conferred by the President of theUnited States of America Legion of Merit Group Capt. C. A. -BEIX.Group Capt. G. H. RANDLE. Silver Star Act. Group Capt. R. H. WATEEHOUSE, D.F.C.,AFC Wing Cdr. G. E. HARRISON, NO. 149 Sqn. Act. Wing Cdr. H. H. BURNELI., NO. 7 Sqn. Sqn. Ldr. W, V. CRAWFOKD-COMPTON, D.F.C.,K.A.F.V.B., No. 453 Sqn. Sqn. Ldr. E. F. J. CHARLES, D.F.C., No. 611 Sqn.Distinguished Flying Cross Act. Wing Cdr. K, L. B. HODSON, D.F.C.,R.C.A.F. Act. Wing Cdr. T. R. HOPE, D.F.C., No. 58 Sqn. Fit. Lt, G. H. T. HATTON, K.A F.V.R.Act. Fit. Lt. R. A. BUCKHAII D.F.C., R.C.A.F., No. 416 (R.C.A.F.) Sqn..Act. Fit. Lt. J. A. WAKEFORD. D.F.C., R.A.F.V It., No. 9 Sqn. (since reported missing). W/O. W. GREENFIELD, NO. 277 Sqn.Air Medal Sqn. LdT. D. W. STEVENTON, D.8.O., D.F.C., No.541 .Sqn. Fit. Lt. W. A. PREST, R.C.A.F., No. 122 Sqn. Act. Fit. Lt. S. TREVAIXION, R.A.F.V.R., No. •* 'HTH SOIL 10. G7S>MASON, R.A.F.V.R., No. 222 Sqn.F/O. G. pLAflrKR.A.F.V.R., No. 541 Sqn. F/O. D. F. WILSW, R.A.F.V.R., No. 542 Sqn.W/O. T. McN. OmSksTON, No. 277 Sqn. W/O. A. K. SATJNDEISB, R.N Z.A.F., No. 277 Sqa.Fit. Sgt. G. N. LEiGHWra, No. 277 Sqn. SoldierV Medal Fit. Sgt. R. E. RENNI Cpl. I. A. C. STEELE.
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