"On the night of 12 August 1943, Flight Sergeant Aaron was captain and pilot of a Stirling aircraft detailed to attack Turin.
When approaching to attack, the bomber received devastating bursts of
fire from an enemy fighter. Three engines were hit, the windscreen
shattered, the front and rear turrets put out of action and the elevator control
damaged, causing the aircraft to become unstable and difficult to
control. The navigator was killed and other members of the crew were
wounded. A bullet struck Flight Sergeant Aaron in the face, breaking his jaw
and tearing away part of his face. He was also wounded in the lung and
his right arm was rendered useless. As he fell forward over the control
column, the aircraft dived several thousand feet. Control was regained
by the flight engineer at 3,000 feet. Unable to speak, Flight Sergeant
Aaron urged the bomb aimer by signs to take over the controls. Course
was then set southwards in an endeavor to fly the crippled bomber, with
one engine out of action, to Sicily or North Africa. Flight Sergeant Aaron was assisted to the rear of the aircraft and treated with morphia.
After resting for some time he rallied and, mindful of his
responsibility as captain of aircraft, insisted on returning to the
pilot's cockpit, where he was lifted into his seat and had his feet
placed on the rudder bar. Twice he made determined attempts to take
control and hold the aircraft to its course but his weakness was evident
and with difficulty he was persuaded to desist. Though in great pain
and suffering from exhaustion, he continued to help by writing
directions with his left hand. Five hours after leaving the target the petrol began to run low, but soon afterwards the flare path at Bone airfield
was sighted. Flight Sergeant Aaron summoned his failing strength to
direct the bomb aimer in the hazardous task of landing the damaged
aircraft in the darkness with undercarriage retracted. Four attempts
were made under his direction; at the fifth Flight Sergeant Aaron was so
near to collapsing that he had to be restrained by the crew and the
landing was completed by the bomb aimer. Nine hours after landing, Flight Sergeant Aaron died from
exhaustion. Had he been content, when grievously wounded, to lie still
and conserve his failing strength, he would probably have recovered, but
he saw it as his duty to exert himself to the utmost, if necessary with
his last breath, to ensure that his aircraft and crew did not fall into
enemy hands. In appalling conditions he showed the greatest qualities
of courage, determination and leadership and, though wounded and dying,
he set an example of devotion to duty which has seldom been equaled and
never surpassed."
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