Britain's last surviving World War Two Victoria Cross hero turns 100

By Ben Philip The Nine

Thought this deserved a thread of it's own.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-north-east-orkney-shetland-52704526

John Cruickshank's heroic RAF actions were in 1944

Britain's last surviving Victoria Cross holder for air action in World War Two has turned 100.

Flight Lieutenant John Cruickshank, of Aberdeen, earned the honour aged 24 during an attack on a German U-boat.

Despite being badly injured, the pilot and his crew managed to sink the submarine.

The Victoria Cross is the highest recognition for valour that can be awarded to members of the British and Commonwealth Armed Forces.

The incident in question happened on 17 July, 1944.

Flt Lt Cruickshank was born in 1920

A Flying Officer at the time, he was piloting a Catalina flying boat, protecting British vessels from German U-boats in the Norwegian Sea.

A member of the crew spotted a vessel ahead of them.

They immediately went on the offensive, and began a bombing run through heavy gun fire.

Attacked again

However, their bombs did not release.

Despite having now lost the element of surprise, he turned the aircraft around and attacked once again.

This time he released the bombs himself and successfully destroyed the submarine.

The Catalina flying boat sank the German U-boat

His navigator was killed and co-pilot seriously injured.

The pilot himself suffered 72 injuries, including serious wounds to his lungs and lower limbs.

He refused medical attention, but managed to get himself, his aircraft and crew back to their base at Sullom Voe in Shetland.

His injuries were so serious that he never returned to operational flying, leaving the RAF in 1946, and resuming a career in banking - rarely speaking of his experiences to anyone.

In 1995, he said of his honour: "I hold this (VC) in trust for all those who flew with the command during the war.

"And of course I also keep in mind all the members of my crew at that time who so magnificently carried out their duties."

In 2008 he said: "You don't get involved in that kind of thing thinking of any decorations or any recognition. It was regarded as duty."

'Others less fortunate'

In 2013, he was given the opportunity to fly in an aircraft similar to the one he piloted during the war.

He said: "It wasn't all my efforts, there were efforts of many others. We were very fortunate. There were others who were less fortunate than I was."

He was joined by his friend and former RAF serviceman, Bob Kemp, who said Mr Cruickshank was an example to all aircrew, having displayed leadership of the highest order.

Mr Kemp said: "He's a true gentleman. Quiet, reserved with a great sense of humour. When he tells one of his stories, he often roars with laughter before he reaches the punchline.

"But he has an amazing memory, and his attention to detail is notable. And for a centenarian, John has much for us to admire."

Such is the modesty of the man, Flt Lt Cruickshank is celebrating his 100th birthday quietly.

Wow !  What bravery !!

                                                                           Photo of U-361 from Cruickshank’s Catalina during the attack                                 

                                                                            Photo credit: Mike Weston ABIPP/MOD

https://www.warhistoryonline.com/featured/john-cruickshank-sank-a-u-boat.html

For leaders in combat, there exists a strange paradox, where they are to order their men towards very possibly death while simultaneously being inexplicably concerned for their welfare.  Quite often, balancing such a dichotomy will come down to the small unit leader and such was the case of RAF Pilot John Cruickshank.

 

In full knowledge of the damage and fire he and his crew were about to receive, he took a second pass on a German U-boat sinking it at great cost to himself and his aircrew.  And then with the mission accomplished, he instantly switched to the protectorate of his men despite having received 72 individual shrapnel wounds in the assault.  He fought through the pain to ensure his crew made it home safely and when he arrived he had accomplished a feat that would earn him the Victoria Cross.

The Flying Boat

John Cruickshank was born on May 20^th, 1920 in Aberdeen Scotland.  Initially setting out on a career in banking he was apprenticed to the Commercial Bank in Edinburgh before the War.  But war often changes the career paths of many men and Cruickshank wouldn’t be any different.  He had originally joined the Royal Artillery in May 1939 where he served until 1941.  He then transferred to the Royal Air Force and participated in flight training in Canada and the United States.

After picking up his wings, he was assigned to No. 210 Squadron in March of 1943.  Here he would pilot the famous Consolidated PBY Catalina flying boat that played such a pivotal part in the battle against German U-boats.  Used by the Americans, Royal Air Force, and Canadian Air Force, these maritime aircraft would see action in every theatre of war.

Cruickshank was based out of Sullom Voe in the Shetland Islands and would spend a considerable amount of time patrolling the waters of the Norwegian Sea.  The mission was a simple game of cat and mouse as the planes would take to the skies on the search for German U-boats attempting to break out into the Atlantic or disrupt shipping north of England.  Catching a surfaced U-boat wasn’t a simple or safe task, but one every flying boat pilot hoped to experience.  And one fateful day in 1944, Cruickshank would have an encounter which would lead to his special place in the Battle of the Atlantic.

Air to Sea Attack

On July 17^th, 1944, Cruickshank took off from Sullom Voe in his Catalina flying boat headed for the Norwegian Sea where they were to provide a lookout for the British fleet operating in the area.  It was in the performance of this mission that Cruickshank and his flying boat caught a German Type VIIC U-boat on the surface of the water.

At this point in the war, the German U-boats had adapted to the aerial threat posed by the RAF and had outfitted with anti-aircraft guns for that dreaded moment when they were caught on the surface.  And while the element of a surprise aerial attack often gave the advantage to the aircraft, the nature of making a depth charge run on a U-boat meant that the aircraft were at great risk once the sub crew got a bead on them.

Cruickshank was based out of Sullom Voe in the Shetland Islands and would spend a considerable amount of time patrolling the waters of the Norwegian Sea.  The mission was a simple game of cat and mouse as the planes would take to the skies on the search for German U-boats attempting to break out into the Atlantic or disrupt shipping north of England.  Catching a surfaced U-boat wasn’t a simple or safe task, but one every flying boat pilot hoped to experience.  And one fateful day in 1944, Cruickshank would have an encounter which would lead to his special place in the Battle of the Atlantic.

Cruickshank came in for a pass while maintaining a relative element of surprise when the depth charges failed to release on the first run.  Knowing now that the Germans were on guard and the element of surprise had been lost, Cruickshank decided to come in for a second run.  Unfortunately, on this occasion, the flak fire had been deadly accurate and the flying boat was riddled with shrapnel and explosions.

The navigator had been killed, 4 other crew members injured, and Cruickshank himself had received 72 separate shrapnel wounds to his chest, lungs, and legs.  Yet, bleeding profusely and in a cockpit filled with smoke, he zeroed in on the sub and straddled the U-boat perfectly with depth charges.

The U-boat stood little chance in the face of such a perfect deployment of the anti-submarine weapons and was instantly sunk with all 52 crew on board.  Initial reports were that it was U-347 that was sunk, but post-war accounting revealed it was, in fact, U-361 which had taken part in 6 separate wolf packs in 1944 before being sunk.  The mission was accomplished, the signals for a return trip had been sent home, and then Cruickshank collapsed from a loss of blood.

A Long Flight Home

Once he fell out of consciousness, the second and the much more inexperienced pilot took over the controls in an attempt to nurse the wounded plane home.  Cruickshank would temporarily recover and insisted on returning to the controls to ensure the less experienced pilot could take care of the plane and men.

Only then would he consent to medical treatment for his extensive wounds.  Over the next 5 and a half hours on the trip home, Cruickshank would continue to slip in and out of consciousness due to the loss of blood and each time he awoke he immediately took to looking after the plane and his men.

Eventually, they arrived back to their base when Cruickshank awoke to realize the light and sea conditions would prove extremely hazardous for the younger pilot to make.  He took to the controls and insisted that the plane circle for another hour to ensure the craft could land without undue risk to the crew.

With his assistance, the flying boat was landed and he taxied the plane to a beach where it could be easily salvaged.  When the medical officer arrived on the plane and saw Cruickshank’s condition, he immediately ordered a blood transfusion before he could survive the trip to a hospital.

Due to his injuries, this would be the last command flight for Cruickshank, but for his gallantry and resolve on this fateful day, John Cruickshank was awarded the Victoria Cross.

@erskblue Great pictures and articles. Thanks for posting. The Catalina was a fine plane and had an incredible range. There is a Catalina at Duxford and there was due to be an airshow there this coming weekend. A flight of the Catalina at the airshow would have been a great tribute to Mr. Cruickshank to mark his 100th birthday.

9 hours ago, Boyne said:

@erskblue Great pictures and articles. Thanks for posting. The Catalina was a fine plane and had an incredible range. There is a Catalina at Duxford and there was due to be an airshow there this coming weekend. A flight of the Catalina at the airshow would have been a great tribute to Mr. Cruickshank to mark his 100th birthday.

No problem.

I have to admit that I knew virtually nothing about Flt Lt Cruickshank V.C. or the action itself.

19 minutes ago, erskblue said:

No problem.

I have to admit that I knew virtually nothing about Flt Lt Cruickshank V.C. or the action itself.

His name has been mentioned at past Duxford airshows when the Cantalina has flown. I had an Airfix model of the Cantalina when I was a kid. Good old Airfix.

This might interest you from WW2, I've recently became aware of the bi-plane, the Fairey Swordfish which was used to destroy U-boats and crippled the Bismark

https://www.uboat.net/allies/aircraft/swordfish.htm

25 minutes ago, Strider6003 said:

This might interest you from WW2, I've recently became aware of the bi-plane, the Fairey Swordfish which was used to destroy U-boats and crippled the Bismark

https://www.uboat.net/allies/aircraft/swordfish.htm

Cheers Strider.

Those who simply flew it ,deserved a medal in my humble opinion.

To fly it against the massive flak of the Bismark and to actually cripple it...

https://downthetubes.net/?p=16519

More about this incredibly brave and modest man here.

Flying Officer John Cruickshank VC – The Victor

By Jeremy Briggs on May 6, 2008 •

There was a time not that long ago when British boy’s comics celebrated the heroism of British and Commonwealth servicemen.

Jeremy Briggs takes a look back at how British comics once celebrated them….

The Victoria Cross is the highest British award for military gallantry and is all too often bestowed posthumously. There are currently only ten living recipients of the Victoria Cross, the youngest of whom is Private Johnson Beharry who was awarded the medal for his rescue of his comrades in Iraq. His is the newest VC to be awarded and the citation for his bravery is worth reading.

One of the oldest living recipients is John Cruickshank and his courage and determination was featured in both The Victor and Battle/Action.

Sullom Voe in the Shetlands is now known for its oil terminal but during World War II it was a flying boat base, used by 210 Squadron of the Royal Air Force Coastal Command in its battle to keep the North Atlantic and Arctic sea lanes open for supply convoys. Flying Officer Cruickshank was twenty-four years old when he piloted a Consolidated Catalina anti-submarine flying boat from Sullom Voe on 17 July 1944 on a patrol north into the Atlantic. There the “Cat” found a German Type VIIC U-boat on the surface.

At this point in the war the aerial threat to the U-boats meant that they were fitted with anti-aircraft guns and Cruickshank had to fly the Catalina into the hail of flak put up by the U-boat. On that first pass, his depth charges did not release. Despite this he brought the aircraft back round for a second pass and this time straddled the U-boat with his charges sinking it with all hands. Cruickshank’s VC citation refers to the U-Boat as U-347, although we now know that it was actually U-361 and that it went down with all 52 crew members.

The German flak however had been deadly accurate, killing the Catalina’s navigator and injuring four including the second pilot Flight Sergeant Jack Garnett and Cruickshank himself. Cruickshank had been hit in seventy-two places, with two serious wounds to his lungs and ten penetrating wounds to his lower limbs. Despite this, he refused medical attention until be was sure that the appropriate radio signals had been sent and the aircraft was on course for its home base.

Even then, he refused morphine aware that it would cloud his judgement. Flying through the night it took the damaged Catalina five and a half hours to return to Sullom Voe with the injured Garnett at the controls and Cruickshank lapsing in and out of consciousness in the back.

Once there, Cruickshank returned to the cockpit and took command of the aircraft again. Deciding that the light and the sea conditions for a water landing were too risky for the inexperienced Garnett to safely put the aircraft down, he kept the flying boat in the air circling for an extra hour until he considered it safer and they landed the Catalina on the water and taxied it to an area where it could be safely beached.

When the RAF medical officer boarded the aircraft he had to give Cruickshank a blood transfusion before he was considered stable enough to be transferred to hospital. John Cruickshank’s injuries were such that he never flew in command of an aircraft again and after the war he returned to his pre-war job of banking. For his actions in sinking the U-Boat and saving his crew he received the Victoria Cross while Flight Sergeant Jack Garnett received the Distinguished Flying Medal.

The story of F/O Cruickshank and his crew have been featured several times in British comics. Unsurprisingly, The Victor featured it on the front and back covers in their long running “True Tales Of Men At War” series in issue 1143 dated 15 January 1983 and again in issue 1348 dated 20 December 1986 at a time when Victor had just incorporated DC Thomson’s long running war comic Warlord.

While Victor did often reprint its cover stories, in this instance the tale was completely rewritten and redrawn with the art in the second issue in a slightly more modern style by Keith Shone.

Despite running biographical strips such as “The Red Baron”, Battle/Action were never as consistent in their depiction of real life people as The Victor. However in 1979 they ran a series entitled “True Life Heroes”. Part 7 of this in the issue dated 19 February 1979 was entitled “The Cat Strikes” and covered the events of that night.

This time the art was by Ian Kennedy and was produced as a line art centrespread with a single striking black and white wash panel. The colour was added during the production process.

This spread was later reprinted in the 1985 Action Man annual amongst various other military stories and articles from various IPC titles including Battle/Action and Look and Learn.

 

Today, the branches of the British military continue to do the job that the politicians ask of them, whether it has the vocal support of the public or not. Such is the way of our democracy. Without heroes like John Cruickshank we may not have retained that democracy to be able to make the choice to voice that support for them in the first place.

Related Links

• More about John Cruickshank on the About Aberdeen web site

On 20/05/2020 at 13:22, erskblue said:

No problem.

I have to admit that I knew virtually nothing about Flt Lt Cruickshank V.C. or the action itself.

The action is described in John Frayn Turner's book "VCs of the Air". Some feat of airmanship. The co-pilot got the DFM too.

3 minutes ago, Stretford Ender said:

The action is described in John Frayn Turner's book "VCs of the Air". Some feat of airmanship. The co-pilot got the DFM too.

Cheers.

I've probably read that book, but not actually taken the amazing bravery and airmanship in !

 

 

1 minute ago, erskblue said:

Cheers.

I've probably read that book, but not actually taken the amazing bravery and airmanship in !

 

 

He refused morphine even though he was badly wounded. The co-pilot, F/Sgt. Garnett was also wounded but Flt/Lt Cruikshank forced himself to remain conscious, refusing to put the plane down until he was satisfied that sea and light conditions were right for a safe landing. He even stayed at the controls so the Catalina could be beached and salvaged. He was transfused in the aircraft and taken to hospital. He had sustained 72 wounds.

The Victor comic. I've still got a Victor Album from about 1974. I'll have to dig it out and post a couple of pictures on here.

 

7 minutes ago, Boyne said:

 

It was a Catalina, piloted by a US Naval officer, that first spotted the Bismarck. America wasn't yet in the war but he was acting as an unofficial co-pilot attached to 201 Squadron.