VICTORIA CROSS

Dominion, Volume 36, Issue 94, 15 January 1943, Page 5

VICTORIA CROSS

Pilot’s Devotion To Duty

(British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, January 13.

The Victoria Cross has been awarded to Flight Sergeant Rawson Hume Middleton, of the Royal Australian Air Force, who was captain mid first pilot of a Stirling bomber detailed to attack tha Flat works at Turin on November 28, and who was reported missing next day. Great difficulty was experienced in climbing to 12,000 feet to cross the Alps, and this led to excessive fuel consumption. So dark was the night that the mountain peaks were almost invisible, and Middleton had to decide whether to proceed or turn back. There was barely sufficient fuel for the return journey. Flares were sighted ahead, and he continued his mission, and even dived to 2000 feet to identify the target. Three flights were made over Turin at this low altitude before the target was identified. The aircraft was subjected to fire from light A.A. guns. A large hole in the port main plane made it difficult to control, and a shell which burst in the cockpit shattered the windscreen and wounded both the pilots. Loss of Right Eye. Middleton’s right eye was destroyed by a shell splinter, and he was also wounded in the body and legs. The second pilot and the wireless operator were also wounded and Middleton became unconscious. The second pilot managed to get control of tlie plane and the target was bombed. M'heu -Middleton recovered consciousness he ordered the second pilot to receive first aid mid took control of the plane. He decided to try to make the English coast, so the crew could leave the aircraft by parachute. Ou the way home, over the French coast, the aircraft was once more engaged mid hit by intense light A.A. fire, but Middleton mustered sufficient strength to take evasive action. After crossing the Channel there was only sufficient fuel for five minutes, and Middleton ordered the crew to abandon the aircraft while he flew level with the coast for a few miles, after which lie intended to head out to sea. Five of the crew left the aircraft, mid two remained to assist Middleton. The aircraft crashed in the sen and the bodies of the two men were recovered next day. The gallant captain wns apparently unable to leave the aircraft and his body has not been traced. His devotion, to duty is unsurpissed in the annuls of the R.A.F. He was I orn in 1016 at. Wnverley, New Smith Wales, and enlisted in the R.A.A.It. in 1940. and was trained in Canada as a bomber pilot.