6 Group Unavailable
194 Squadron (Surrigere coligere) Akyab Main, Burma (now Sittwe, Myanmar). Dakota Mk III KG-694 suffered an engine failure on take off for an airborne supply drop flight which resulted in the aircraft crashing and catching fire three miles south of Myingyan Aerodrome, Burma.
Flight Lieutenant James Murray Rice (RCAF), Warrant Officer 2nd Class John Maynard Cox (RCAF), and one passenger, Pioneer Mohi Din of the 1588 Company, Indian Pioneer Corps were killed in action. After the crash, the Navigator, Flying Officer John James Baillie (RCAF), badly injured, regained consciousness to find himself entangled in the wreckage inside the burning aircraft. He somehow managed to work himself free and got out, only to hear the screams of other crew members still trapped inside. Despite his injuries, Flying Officer Baillie re-entered the burning Dakota to pull out the Wireless Operator, Alexander Smith (RAFVR) and two other passengers, Sepoy Dehru Ram and Barber Nawab Ali, both from the Indian Army Service Corps. Smith later succumbed to his injuries but the other two crew members and Flying Officer Baillie survived
In 1946 Flying Officer Baillie was awarded the George Medal for this act of bravery (D Burke www.rafcommands.com)
Seven to One, A Collection of Stories by John James Baillie and Catherine Louise Baillie
Royal Air Force Serial and Image Database