| Lancaster PB237 SR-M |
101 Sqn | ||||||||||||||||||
| Date : | 26 décembre 1944 |
Mission : | Saint Vith (Belgique) |
||||||||||||||||
| Décollage : | Ludford Magna à 12:49 |
||||||||||||||||||
| Causes de la perte : | Touché par la Flak au-dessus de la cible |
||||||||||||||||||
| Lieu de la perte : | Atterrissage d’urgence à Reims (51) |
||||||||||||||||||
 |
Sgt | Wilfred | HARTHILL | FE | RAFVR | 1593308 | IND | ||||||||||||
|
FS | Colin Dearnley | DONAGHUE | AB | RAAF | 433301 | POW | Évacue l’appareil en parachute | |||||||||||
|
FS | John Henry | JACKSON | AG | RAFVR | 91786 | KIA | ||||||||||||
|
FS | Raymond Bernard | OLLIS | Nav | RAAF | 423478 | IND | ||||||||||||
|
FS | Elwyn Charles | ROBERTS | AG | RAFVR | 1452454 | IND | ||||||||||||
|
Sqn Ldr | Trevor John | WARNER | Pil | RAF | 41884 | IND |  |
|||||||||||
|
Fg Off | David Welton | WESTON | WOP AG | RAFVR | 157909 | IND | KIA LE 21/02/1945 Lancaster PB671 SR-M du 101 Sqn inhumé à Reichswald Forest war cemetery (All.) |
|||||||||||
DISTINGUISHED FLYING CROSS
Acting Squadron Leader Trevor John WARNER (41884), R.A.F., 101 Sqn.
Flying Officer David Walter WESTON (157909), R.A.F.V.R., 101 Sqn.
These officers were pilot and wireless operator respectively in an aircraft detailed to attack St. Vith in December, 1944. When approaching the target the aircraft was hit by a shell. The port inner engine was damaged, the control trimmer wires were severed and the Mid-upper turret was set on fire. Almost immediately further hits were sustained. The rear gunner was killed. His turret caught fire and the intercommunication system was rendered unserviceable. Whilst Squadron Leader Warner strove to control the damaged aircraft, Flying Officer Weston promptly took the lead in fighting the fire. Ammunition was constantly exploding, adding to the danger, but this officer and his comrades succeeded in subduing the fire around the Mid-upper turret. Meanwhile, Squadron Leader Warner had shown the greatest coolness at the controls and, at this stage, the bombs were released manually. The aircraft was losing height and the fire around the rear turret was blazing furiously. Squadron Leader Warner was determined, if .possible, to reach Allied territory and headed for the nearest airfield as Flying Officer Weston worked strenuously with other members of the crew to control the fire in the rear turret. At last they succeeded in getting the fire under control and finally a safe landing was made. In perilous circumstances, these officers set a fine example of courage, leadership and resolution.
FOURTH SUPPLEMENT TO The LONDON GAZETTE Of FRIDAY, the 2nd of MARCH, 1945