AN AIR EPIC

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 60, Issue 302, 28 September 1940, Page 5

AN AIR EPIC

GAINS VICTORIA CROSS

YOUNG AIRMAN’S HEROISM.

SUBDUES FIRE IN PLANE.

WORK IN BOMB COMPARTMENT.

METAL FLOOR MELTS AWAY

(United Press Association —Copyright.)

(Received This Day, 12.15 pmi;) LONDON, September 27.

The King has conferred the Victoria Cross on Sergeant John Hannah in recognition of most conspicuous bravery. Sergeant Hannah, who is 18, lives in Glasgow. He was a wireless operator and air gunner on an aircraft engaged in a successful attacks on largo concentrations of barges on the night of September 15,” states an Air Ministry bulletin. “The aircraft was hit by a projectile of an explosive and incendiary nature, which apparently burst inside the bomb compartment. Fire started and quickly enveloped the cockpits of the wireless operator and the rear gunner. The port and. starboard petrol tanks being pierced there was grave danger of the fire spreading. “Sergeant Hannah forced his way through the fire to obtain two extinguishers, and discovered that the rear gunner had been forced to leave the aircraft. He could have done tho same, but he remained and fought tho fire for 10 minutes with the extinguishers, then beating the flames with his log book.

“During this time thousands of rounds of ammunition exploded in all directions and Sergeant Hannah was almost blinded by the intense heat and fumes, but he had the presence of mind to turn on the oxygen supply. The air rushing through the large holes caused by the projectile made the / bomb compartment an inferno, and all the aluminium l sheet metal on the floor of this airman’s cockpit melted away, leaving only the cross hearers... Sergeant Hannah, his face and eyes burned, succeeded in extinguishing the fire and crawled forward. He ascertained that the navigator had left the aircraft and passed the latter’s log and maps to the pilot. This airman displayed courage, coolness, and devotion to duty of the highest order, and by his action enabled the pilot to bring the aircraft safely to its base.”