Aitchison, Hugh Maclachlan (Pilot Officer)

75 New Zealand Squadron (Ake Ake Kia Kaha). Wellington I aircraft X 9759 lost during operations over Germany. Sergeant A.H.R. Hawkins RNZAF, Sergeant J.G. Foulkes RAF, Sergeant D.P. Fawcett RAF killed. Sergeant R.B. Blakeway RNZAF and Sergeant W.E. Mullins (RCAF) taken Prisoner of War. (O. Clutton-Brock; R. McNeill PoW List for confirming Sergeant Mullins RCAF). There were two 75 Sqdn. aircraft lost this same date. Those killed on Wellington I X3205 included: Sgt(s) H.G. Sloman (RAF), R.W. Toiler (RAF), K.H. Toothill (RAF), J.A. Ward V.C. (RNZAF), and Pilot Officer A.H.R. Hawkins (RNZAF). FS L.E. Peterson RCAF (USA) and Sergeant H. Watson RAF taken Prisoner of War. Sergeant Ward's citation reads, "On the night of June 7th, 1941, Sergeant Ward was second pilot of a Wellington which was damaged by cannon shell and incendiary bullets from an attacking Messerchmitt 110. Fire broke out near the starboard engine which, fed by a split pipe, threatened to spread to the entire wing. Strenuous efforts by the crew failed to extinguish the fire, and they were warned to be ready to abandon the aircraft Sergeant Ward then volunteered to try to smother the fire with an engine cover which chanced to be in use as a cushion. He got through the narrow astrohatch and, by breaking the fabric to make hand and foot holds, succeeded in climbing on to, and then along the wing to a position behind the engine. Lying precariously there he smothered the fire in the wing fabric, and tried to push the engine cover on to the leaking pipe. It was blown back by the terrific wind, and on the second attempt it was lost. Nevertheless, the fabric surrounding the pipe was destroyed, so that the fire could not spread and finally burnt itself out. Sergeant Ward, with assistance from the navigator, was able to struggle back into the aircraft, which eventually reached home and safety. The flight back was made possible by Sergeant Ward's most conspicuous bravery in extinguishing the fire at the risk of his life."