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James Allen Ward VC (14 June 1919 – 15 September 1941) was a New Zealand recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces.
Ward was a 22-year-old sergeant pilot with No. 75 (NZ) Squadron when he carried out the action for which he was awarded the Victoria Cross (VC). He was co-pilot on a Vickers Wellington bomber flying out of RAF Feltwell in Norfolk, United Kingdom. On 7 July 1941 after an attack on Münster, Germany, the Wellington (AA-R) in which Sergeant Ward was second pilot was attacked by a German Bf 110 night fighter. The attack opened a fuel tank in the starboard wing and caused a fire at the rear of the starboard engine.
Vickers Wellington L7818 'AA-R', pictured on return from operations on 7 July 1941. Shown are the holes Sgt Ward made to help him climb across the wing
The skipper of the aircraft told him to try to put out the fire. Sergeant Ward crawled out through the narrow astrodome (used for celestial navigation) on the end of a rope initially reported as being taken from the aircraft's emergency dinghy, but actually from an engine cover. He kicked or tore holes in the aircraft's fabric with a fire axe to give himself hand- and foot-holes. By this means he reached the engine and attempted to smother the flames with a canvas cover.
Although the fuel continued to leak, with the fire out the plane was now safe. His crawl back over the wing, in which he had previously torn holes, was more dangerous than the outward journey but he managed with the help of the aircraft's navigator. Instead of the crew having to bail out, the aircraft made an emergency landing at Newmarket, United Kingdom.
The recommendation for a VC was a matter of discussion at the time. Senior RAF officers questioned whether a VC was appropriate, since his actions had some aspect of self-preservation.
In the summer of 1941, Sergeant Ward was summoned to 10 Downing Street by Prime Minister Winston Churchill. The shy New Zealander was struck dumb with awe by the experience and was unable to answer the Prime Minister's questions. Churchill regarded the reluctant hero with some compassion. "You must feel very humble and awkward in my presence," he said. "Yes, sir," managed Ward. "Then you can imagine how humble and awkward I feel in yours," said Churchill. However, there is some doubt about the accuracy of this anecdote as Churchill was aboard HMS Prince of Wales meeting the US President at the time it is reported to have happened.[2]
Ward was a 22-year-old sergeant pilot with No. 75 (NZ) Squadron when he carried out the action for which he was awarded the Victoria Cross (VC). He was co-pilot on a Vickers Wellington bomber flying out of RAF Feltwell in Norfolk, United Kingdom. On 7 July 1941 after an attack on Münster, Germany, the Wellington (AA-R) in which Sergeant Ward was second pilot was attacked by a German Bf 110 night fighter. The attack opened a fuel tank in the starboard wing and caused a fire at the rear of the starboard engine.
Vickers Wellington L7818 'AA-R', pictured on return from operations on 7 July 1941. Shown are the holes Sgt Ward made to help him climb across the wing
The skipper of the aircraft told him to try to put out the fire. Sergeant Ward crawled out through the narrow astrodome (used for celestial navigation) on the end of a rope initially reported as being taken from the aircraft's emergency dinghy, but actually from an engine cover. He kicked or tore holes in the aircraft's fabric with a fire axe to give himself hand- and foot-holes. By this means he reached the engine and attempted to smother the flames with a canvas cover.
Although the fuel continued to leak, with the fire out the plane was now safe. His crawl back over the wing, in which he had previously torn holes, was more dangerous than the outward journey but he managed with the help of the aircraft's navigator. Instead of the crew having to bail out, the aircraft made an emergency landing at Newmarket, United Kingdom.
The recommendation for a VC was a matter of discussion at the time. Senior RAF officers questioned whether a VC was appropriate, since his actions had some aspect of self-preservation.
In the summer of 1941, Sergeant Ward was summoned to 10 Downing Street by Prime Minister Winston Churchill. The shy New Zealander was struck dumb with awe by the experience and was unable to answer the Prime Minister's questions. Churchill regarded the reluctant hero with some compassion. "You must feel very humble and awkward in my presence," he said. "Yes, sir," managed Ward. "Then you can imagine how humble and awkward I feel in yours," said Churchill. However, there is some doubt about the accuracy of this anecdote as Churchill was aboard HMS Prince of Wales meeting the US President at the time it is reported to have happened.[2]
James Allen Ward - Wikipedia
Posted from en.wikipedia.org
Birthday
Aviator
WWII World War Two
Heroes
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Hello There. My Name is Duncan. I don't mind you using my Videos only if you ask first. Enjoy the Visiting of my Channel. G1 Superion and Pie. -Duncannuva or...
Thank you, my friend Maj Marty Hogan for making us aware that June 14 is the anniversary of the birth of pre-war teacher, sergeant pilot with Royal New Zealand Air Force, 75 (NZ) Squadron, RAF Squadron James Allen Ward who was awarded the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces the Victoria Cross.
Date of birth: June 14th, 1919 (Wanganui, New Zealand)
Date of death: September 15th, 1941 (Hamburg, Germany)
Images:
1. Sergeant Pilot J A Ward VC - of Wanganu
2. 1941-09-15 Tombstone of Sergeant Pilot J A Ward VC - of Wanganui
NZ hero: James Allen Ward
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i-o6th7O7fM
Background from aucklandmuseum.com/war-memorial/online-cenotaph/record/C18197
"MILITARY DECORATIONS CONTRIBUTE ›
MEDALS AND AWARDSVictoria Cross (VC) AWMM
VC. Medal citation; "On the night of 7th July, 1941, Sergeant Ward was second pilot of a Wellington returning from an attack on Munster. When flying over the Zuider Zee at 13,000 feet, the aircraft was attacked from beneath by a Messerschmitt which secured hits with cannon shell and incendiary bullets. The rear gunner was wounded in the foot but foot but delivered a burst of fire which sent the enemy fighter down, apparently out of control. Fire then broke out near the starboard engine and, fed by petrol from a split pipe, quickly gained an alarming hold and threatened to spread to the entire wing. The crew forced a hole in the fuselage and made strenuous efforts to reduce the fire with extinguishers, and even the coffee in their vacuum flasks, but without success. They were then warned to be ready to abandon the aircraft. As a last resort, Sergeant Ward volunteered to make an attempt to smother the fire with an engine cover which happened to be in use as a cushion. At first he proposed to discard his parachute, to reduce wind resistance, but was finally persuaded to take it. A rope from the dingy was tied to him, though this was of little help and might have become a danger had he been blown off the aircraft. With the help of the navigator, he then climbed through the narrow astro-hatch and put on his parachute. The bomber was flying at a reduced speed but the wind pressure must have been sufficient to render the operation one of extreme difficulty. Breaking the fabric to make hand and foot holds where necessary, and also taking advantage of existing holes in the fabric, Sergeant Ward succeeded in descending three feet to the wing and proceeding another three feet to a position behind the engine, despite the slipstream from the airscrew, which nearly blew him off the wing. Lying in this precarious position, he smothered the fire in the wing fabric and tried to push the cover into the hole in the wing and on to the leaking pipe from which the fire came. As soon as he removed his hand, however, the terrific wind blew the cover out and when he tried again it was lost. Tired as he was, he was able with the navigator's assistance, to make successfully the perilous journey back into the aircraft. There was now no danger of fire spreading from the petrol pipe, as there was no fabric left nearby, and in due course it burnt itself out. When the aircraft was nearly home some petrol which had collected in the wing blazed up furiously but died down quite suddenly. A safe landing was then made despite the damage sustained by the aircraft. The flight home had been made possible by the gallant action of Sergeant Ward in extinguishing the fire on the wing in circumstances of the greatest difficulty and at the risk of his life."
FYI LTC Stephen C. LTC (Join to see) Maj Bill Smith, Ph.D. Maj William W. "Bill" Price SCPO Morris Ramsey SFC William Farrell SGT Mark Halmrast Sgt Randy Wilber Sgt John H. SGT Gregory Lawritson CPL Dave Hoover SPC Margaret Higgins SSgt Brian Brakke 1stSgt Eugene Harless SSG William Jones SSG Diane R.
Date of birth: June 14th, 1919 (Wanganui, New Zealand)
Date of death: September 15th, 1941 (Hamburg, Germany)
Images:
1. Sergeant Pilot J A Ward VC - of Wanganu
2. 1941-09-15 Tombstone of Sergeant Pilot J A Ward VC - of Wanganui
NZ hero: James Allen Ward
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i-o6th7O7fM
Background from aucklandmuseum.com/war-memorial/online-cenotaph/record/C18197
"MILITARY DECORATIONS CONTRIBUTE ›
MEDALS AND AWARDSVictoria Cross (VC) AWMM
VC. Medal citation; "On the night of 7th July, 1941, Sergeant Ward was second pilot of a Wellington returning from an attack on Munster. When flying over the Zuider Zee at 13,000 feet, the aircraft was attacked from beneath by a Messerschmitt which secured hits with cannon shell and incendiary bullets. The rear gunner was wounded in the foot but foot but delivered a burst of fire which sent the enemy fighter down, apparently out of control. Fire then broke out near the starboard engine and, fed by petrol from a split pipe, quickly gained an alarming hold and threatened to spread to the entire wing. The crew forced a hole in the fuselage and made strenuous efforts to reduce the fire with extinguishers, and even the coffee in their vacuum flasks, but without success. They were then warned to be ready to abandon the aircraft. As a last resort, Sergeant Ward volunteered to make an attempt to smother the fire with an engine cover which happened to be in use as a cushion. At first he proposed to discard his parachute, to reduce wind resistance, but was finally persuaded to take it. A rope from the dingy was tied to him, though this was of little help and might have become a danger had he been blown off the aircraft. With the help of the navigator, he then climbed through the narrow astro-hatch and put on his parachute. The bomber was flying at a reduced speed but the wind pressure must have been sufficient to render the operation one of extreme difficulty. Breaking the fabric to make hand and foot holds where necessary, and also taking advantage of existing holes in the fabric, Sergeant Ward succeeded in descending three feet to the wing and proceeding another three feet to a position behind the engine, despite the slipstream from the airscrew, which nearly blew him off the wing. Lying in this precarious position, he smothered the fire in the wing fabric and tried to push the cover into the hole in the wing and on to the leaking pipe from which the fire came. As soon as he removed his hand, however, the terrific wind blew the cover out and when he tried again it was lost. Tired as he was, he was able with the navigator's assistance, to make successfully the perilous journey back into the aircraft. There was now no danger of fire spreading from the petrol pipe, as there was no fabric left nearby, and in due course it burnt itself out. When the aircraft was nearly home some petrol which had collected in the wing blazed up furiously but died down quite suddenly. A safe landing was then made despite the damage sustained by the aircraft. The flight home had been made possible by the gallant action of Sergeant Ward in extinguishing the fire on the wing in circumstances of the greatest difficulty and at the risk of his life."
FYI LTC Stephen C. LTC (Join to see) Maj Bill Smith, Ph.D. Maj William W. "Bill" Price SCPO Morris Ramsey SFC William Farrell SGT Mark Halmrast Sgt Randy Wilber Sgt John H. SGT Gregory Lawritson CPL Dave Hoover SPC Margaret Higgins SSgt Brian Brakke 1stSgt Eugene Harless SSG William Jones SSG Diane R.
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Excellent reminder that you don't have to be an American to be a hero.
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Excellent story, true or not. And even if he manged to save his own life, he did save his crew.
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