"On the night of 15th September, 1940, Sergeant Hannah was the
wireless operator/air gunner in an aircraft engaged in a successful
attack on an enemy barge concentration at Antwerp. It was then subjected
to intense anti-aircraft fire and received a direct hit from a
projectile of an explosive and incendiary nature, which apparently burst
inside the bomb compartment. A fire started which quickly enveloped the wireless operators and
rear gunners cockpits, and as both the port and starboard petrol tanks
had been pierced, there was grave risk of the fire spreading. Sergeant
Hannah forced his way through to obtain two extinguishers and discovered
that the rear gunner had had to leave the aircraft. He could have acted
likewise, through the bottom escape hatch or forward through the
navigators hatch, but remained and fought the fire for ten minutes with
the extinguishers, beating the flames with his log book when these were
empty. During this time thousands of rounds of ammunition exploded in
all directions and he was almost blinded by the intense heat and fumes,
but had the presence of mind to obtain relief by turning on his oxygen
supply. Air admitted through the large holes caused by the projectile
made the bomb compartment an inferno and all the aluminum sheet metal
on the floor of this airman's cockpit was melted away, leaving only the
cross bearers.
Working under these conditions, which caused burns to his face and eyes,
Sergeant Hannah succeeded in extinguishing the fire. He then crawled
forward, ascertained that the navigator had left the aircraft, and
passed the latter's log and maps to the pilot. This airman displayed
courage, coolness and devotion to duty of the highest order and by his
action in remaining and successfully extinguishing the fire under
conditions of the greatest danger and difficulty, enabled the pilot to
bring the aircraft to its base."
From Sgt. Hannah's Victoria Cross citation, awarded on 1 October 1940.
May you be at peace,
Brian
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