Connor, Clare Arthur

Hampden Mk I L-4093 OL-J was hit by flak on a bombing sortie to Kiel, Germany and crashed into the North Sea off Spurn Head, Yorkshire, England while returning from operations

Flying Officer Connor's body was found floating in a life raft off Spurn Head and he was buried in the village churchyard at Brattleby, Lincolnshire, England

Flying Officer Connolly was awarded the DFC for action in a raid 1940-09-15 and his Wireless Operator Air Gunner, Sergeant J Hannah (RAF) won a Victoria Cross at the same time. Sergeant Hannah said that Flying Officer Connor should also have been awarded the Victoria Cross.

The following details were given in the London Gazette of October 1st, 1940. On the night of September 15th, 1940, Sergeant Hannah was the wireless operator/air gunner in an aircraft engaged in a successful attack on enemy barge concentrations at Antwerp. A direct hit from an explosive projectile, which burst inside the bomb compartment, started a fire which quickly enveloped the wireless operator's and rear gunners cockpits, while both port and starboard petrol tanks had been pierced enhancing the danger. The rear gunner and the navigator had to leave the aircraft, and Sergeant Hannah could have done so too, but remained to fight the fire with extinguishers, and when these were empty he beat at the flames with his log book. Despite some relief from his oxygen supply, the intense heat and fumes from the thousands of rounds of exploding ammunition almost blinded Sergeant Hannah, and his face and eyes were badly burned. Nevertheless he succeeded in extinguishing the fire, enabling the pilot, Flying Officer Connor, to bring the aircraft safely to its base. This airman displayed courage, coolness, and devotion to duty of the highest order