"Flying Officer Trigg had rendered outstanding service on convoy escort
and anti-submarine duties. He had completed 46 operational sorties and
had invariably displayed skill and courage of a very high order. One
day in August 1943, Flying Officer Trigg undertook, as captain and
pilot, a patrol in a Liberator although he had not previously made any
operational sorties in that type of aircraft. After searching for 8
hours a surfaced U-boat was sighted. Flying Officer Trigg immediately
prepared to attack. During the approach, the aircraft received many hits
from the submarine's anti-aircraft guns and burst into flames, which
quickly enveloped the tail. The moment was critical. Flying Officer
Trigg could have broken off the engagement and made a forced landing in
the sea. But if he continued the attack, the aircraft would present a "no deflection"
target to deadly accurate anti-aircraft fire, and every second spent in
the air would increase the extent and intensity of the flames and
diminish his chances of survival. There could have been no hesitation
or doubt in his mind. He maintained his course in spite of the already
precarious condition of his aircraft and executed a masterly attack. Skimming over the U-boat at less than 50 feet with anti-aircraft fire
entering his opened bomb doors, Flying Officer Trigg dropped his bombs
on and around the U-boat where they exploded with devastating effect. A
short distance further on the Liberator dived into the sea with her
gallant captain and crew. The U-boat sank within 20 minutes and some of
her crew were picked up later in a rubber dinghy that had broken loose
from the Liberator. The Battle of the Atlantic has yielded many fine
stories of air attacks on underwater craft, but Flying Officer Trigg's
exploit stands out as an epic of grim determination and high courage.
His was the path of duty that leads to glory."
From Flying Officer Trigg's Victoria Cross citation, awarded on 29 October 1943.
A brave ally,
Brian
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