Gazette Information: VICTORIA CROSS,: http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/36682/supplements/4073. Flying Officer John Alexander Cruickshank (126700), 210 Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve. On 17th/18th July 1944 Flying Officer Cruickshank, on anti-submarine patrol in Northern waters, was attacking a U-boat in a hail of flak shells when one burst inside the aircraft, causing a great deal of damage. One member of the crew was killed and two wounded, and although he too had been hit – it was later found that he had 72 wounds – Flying Officer Cruikshank went in again, releasing his depth charges, which straddled the U-boat perfectly, and it sank. On the hazardous 5 1/2-hour return journey the flying officer several times lost consciousness, but insisted on helping to land the Catalina.
Fold3_Team · 31 Oct 2023
Gazette Information: VICTORIA CROSS,: http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/36682/supplements/4073. Flying Officer John Alexander Cruickshank (126700), 210 Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve. On 17th/18th July 1944 Flying Officer Cruickshank, on anti-submarine patrol in Northern waters, was attacking a U-boat in a hail of flak shells when one burst inside the aircraft, causing a great deal of damage. One member of the crew was killed and two wounded, and although he too had been hit – it was later found that he had 72 wounds – Flying Officer Cruikshank went in again, releasing his depth charges, which straddled the U-boat perfectly, and it sank. On the hazardous 5 1/2-hour return journey the flying officer several times lost consciousness, but insisted on helping to land the Catalina.