V.C. FOR AIRMAN

Opotiki News, Volume III, Issue 317, 30 September 1940, Page 4

V.C. FOR AIRMAN

MACHINE SAVED BATTLE WITH FLAMES INFERNO SUPPRESSED HIGH COURAGE PRAISED OTHERS LEAVE PLANE (News by Cable.) RUGBY, Sept. 27. The King has conferred the Victoria Cross, the eleventh award since the outbreak of the war, to Sergeant John Hannah, in recognition of most conspicuous bravery. Sergeant Hannah, who is 18 years of age, lives in Glasgow. He was wireless operator and air gunner in an aircraft engaged in a successful attack on large 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. A fire started and quickly enveloped the cockpits of the wireless operator and the rear gunner. The port and starboard petrol tanks having been pierced, there' was a 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 the same, but remained and fought the fire for 10 minutes with extinguishers, then beating the flames with the log book. Compartment an Inferno

During this time thousands- of rounds of ammunition exploded in all directions and Sergeant Hannah was almost blinded by intense heat and fumes, but he had the presence of mind to turn on his oxygen supply. The air rushed through the large holes caused by the projectile making the bomb compartment an inferno and all the aluminium and sheet metal on the door of the airman’s cockpit melted away, leaving only the cross bearers.' Sergeant Hannah, his face and eyes burned, succeeded in extinguishing the fire, crawled forward, ascertained that the navigator had left the aircraft and passed the latter’s log 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.