AWARDED THE V.C.

Evening Post, Volume CXXX, Issue 78, 28 September 1940, Page 11

AWARDED THE V.C.

YOUTHFUL AIRMAN

FOUGHT FIRE DURING RAID

THE PLANE SAVED

(British Official Wireless.) (Received September 28, noon.) RUGBY, September 27.^ The King lias conferred the Victoria Cross on Sergeant John Hannah in recognition of his most conspicuous bravery. Sergeant Hannah, who is 18 years old and lives at Glasgow, was the wireless operator and _ air gunner in an aircraft engaged in a successful attack on large concentrations of barges on the night of September 15. . The aircraft was hit by a projectile of an explosive and incendiary nature which apparently burst inside the bomb compartment. A fire started quickly and enveloped the cockpits of the wireless operator and the rear gunner. The port and starboard petrol tanks being pierced, there was a grave danger of the fire spreading. 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 the same, but remained and fought the fire for ten minutes with extinguishers, then beating the flames with the log book. During this time thousands of rounds of ammunition exploded in all directions and Hannah was almost blinded by the intense heat and fumes, but he had the presence of mind to turn on the oxygen supply. Air rushing through the large holes caused by the projectile made the bomb compartment an inferno and all the aluminium sheet metal on the floor melted away. Hannah, his face and eyes burned, succeeded in extinguishing the fire. He crawled forward and ascertained that the navigator had left the aircraft. He passed letters, the log, and maps to the pilot. Hannah 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. Hannah was born at Paisley. He was a boot salesman before joining the R.A.F. in 1939.