AIRMAN'S V.C.

Evening Post, Volume CXXXVIII, Issue 55, 2 September 1944, Page 8

AIRMAN'S V.C.

WONDERFUL PERFORMANCE Rec. 1 p.m. RUGBY, September 1. Struck in seventy-two nlates, with two serious wounds in the lungs and ten penetrating wounds in the lower limbs, a former bank apprentice, Flying Officer John Cruikshank, of Edinburgh, pressed home an attack on a U-boat and sank it, and so won the Victoria Cross. . The citation says that Cruikshank, who was captain-arid pilot of a CataIma flying-boat, sighted a surfaced submarine •in northern ,waters. . In the face of fierce fire he' manoeuvred to position and ran to release depth charges, which unfortunately failed to drop.. Although his aircraft offered a good target Cruikshank climbed and turned, to come in again. The CataIma was met by intense fire and badly damaged. The navigator-bomb-aimer was killed and the second pilot and two other members of the crew were injured, but Cruikshank pressed home the attack and released the depth charges himself, straddling the submarine perfectly. He then collapsed, and the''second pilot took over the controls. He recovered shortly afterwards, and though bleeding, profusely,'insisted on resuming control until he was satisfied that tne damaged aircraft was under control and a course was set for the base. He refused morphia in case it might prevent his carrying on. In the next i>£ hours he lapsed into unconsciousness several times. -■■■■.; When the aircraft was over the base Cruikshank, although able to breathe ■only.,with the greatest difficulty, insisted, on being carried forward and propped up in the second pilot's seat. For a i full hour, despite-his agony and increasing weakness, he gave orders as necessary, refusing to allow the^ aircraft to be brought down until the conditions of light and sea made this possible without undue risk.. With his assistance the aircraft was safely landed on the water. He then directed the taxiing and beaching :of the Catalina so that' it could be easily salvaged. When a medical officer went aboard, Cruikshank collapsed, and he had to be given a; blood transfusion before he could be removed to hospital. By pressing. home the.second attack in his gravely .wounded condition, and" continuing his exertions on the return journey, with his strength'>failing all the time, he seriously prejudiced his chance of survival, even if the aircraft had safely reached its base. j