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Flight Sergeant ARTHUR LOUIS AARON

Service Number: 1458181
Regiment & Unit/Ship

Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve

218 (Gold Coast) Sqdn.

Date of Death

Died 14 August 1943

Age 21 years old

Buried or commemorated at

BONE WAR CEMETERY, ANNABA

II. B. 3.

Algeria

Commonwealth War Graves Commission - Headstone Placeholder
  • Country of Service United Kingdom
  • Awards Victoria Cross, Distinguished Flying Medal
  • Additional Info Son of Mr. and Mrs. B. Aaron, of Gledhow, Leeds, Yorkshire.
  • Personal Inscription "AN EXAMPLE OF COURAGE SELDOM EQUALLED BUT NEVER SURPASSED"
  • Additional Citation note

    The London Gazette of 7th November, 1943, gives the following details in the citation. On the night of 12th August, 1943, Flight-Sergeant Aaron was captain and pilot of a bomber detailed to attack Turin. When approaching its target, the aircraft was hit by fire from an enemy fighter, which caused it to become unstable and difficult to control. Flight-Sergeant Aaron was wounded in the face and lung, and his right arm was rendered useless. After a rest, he made determined efforts to take control again - persuaded to desist, he wrote instructions with his left hand, and guided the bomb-aimer in the hazardous task of landing the damaged aircraft at Bone in North Africa. Nine hours after landing, he died of exhaustion. 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 equalled and never surpassed.

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