Men of RAF Bomber Command who won the VC

Men of Bomber Command who were awarded the Victoria Cross

Flight Lieutenant Rod Learoyd

No.49 Squadron

12 August 1940

For an attack on the Dortmund Ems Canal

Sergeant John Hannah

No.83 Squadron

15 September 1940

For fighting a fire on board his aircraft. Aged 18 Hannah was the youngest airmen VC recipient.

Wing Commander Hughie Edwards

No.105 Squadron

4 July 1941

For leading a daylight raid on Bremen.

Sergeant Jimmy Ward

No.75 Squadron

7 July 1941

For tackling a fire aboard his aircraft.

Squadron Leader John Nettleton

No.44 Squadron

17 April 1942

For successfully bombing Augsburg in daylight.

Flying Officer Leslie Manser

No.50 Squadron

30 May 1942

For holding his aircraft level while his crew baled out. Posthumous.

Pilot Officer Ron Middleton

No.149 Squadron

28 November 1942

For flying his aircraft home despite being mortally wounded. Posthumous.

Squadron Leader Leonard Trent

No.487 Squadron

3 May 1943

For leading a daylight raid on Amsterdam.

Wing Commander Guy Gibson

No.617 Squadron

16 May 1943

For leading the Dambusters Raid

Flight Sergeant Arthur Aaron

No.218 Squadron

12 August 1943

For landing his damaged aircraft safely despite being mortally wounded. Posthumous.

Flight Lieutenant Bill Reid

No.61 Squadron

3 November 1943

For continuing his mission and returning safely despite severe wounds.

Pilot Officer Cyril Barton

No.578 Squadron

30 March 1944

For crashlanding his bomber away from a village, despite serious wounds. Posthumous.

Sergeant Jorman Jackson

No.106 Squadron

26 April 1944

For tackling a fire on board his aircraft..

Pilot Officer Andrew Mynarski

No.419 Squadron

12 June 1944

For rescuing the rear gunner of his aircraft from flames. Posthumous.

Squadron Leader Ian Bazalgette

No.635 Squadron

4 August 1944

For continuing his mission despite being wounded and the bomber damaged. Posthumous.

Wing Commander Leonard Cheshire

No.617 Squadron

For completing 100 Operations.

Squadron Leader Robert Palmer

No.109 Squadron

23 December 1944

For continuing his mission despite the aircraft being in flames. Posthumous.

Flight Sergeant George Thompson

No.9 Squadron

1 January 1945

For rescuing fellow crew members from the crashed and burning aircraft. Posthumous.

Captain Edwin Swales

No.582 Squadron

23 February 1945

For holding his aircraft level so that his crew could bale out. Posthumous.

from RAF Bomber Command at War by Rupert Matthews.
Buy your copy HERE

Book Description

Publication Date: 30 Nov 2010

Bomber Command of the RAF fought one of the longest, most gruelling and thankless campaigns of the Second World War. More than 55,000 men and women were killed serving with the Command and the bombers inflicted severe and ultimately crippling damage to the German war effort. In this powerful book Rupert Matthews, the son of a Bomber Command veteran, takes a new look at the exploits of the RAF's strike force during the Second World War. By looking at the conflict from the viewpoint of those serving in Bomber Command, he reveals the why and the how of the Bomber Command campaigns. The abilities of the aircraft and aircrew are outlined, and the limits this put on operations explained. This book will help the reader understand the conditions under which the men of Bomber Command fought, lived and - tragically - so often died.