Ian Willoughby Bazalgette, VC, DFC
Lancaster F2-T, ND811
Citation form the Victoria Cross - The KING has been graciously pleased to confer the VICTORIA CROSS on the under mentioned officer in recognition of most conspicuous bravery:-
Squadron Leader Ian Willoughby Bazalgette D.F.C. (118131), R.A.F.V.R., 635 Squadron (Deceased):-
On 4th August, 1944, Squadron Leader Bazalgette was 'Master Bomber' of a Pathfinder Squadron detailed to mark an important target at Trossy-St. Maximin for the main bomber force. When nearing the target his Lancaster came under heavy anti-aircraft fire. Both starboard engines were put out of action and serious fires broke out in the fuselage, and the starboard main-plane. The bomb aimer was badly wounded.
As the deputy master bomber had already been shot down, the success of the attack depended on Squadron Leader Bazalgette, and this he knew. Despite the appalling conditions in his burning aircraft, he pressed on gallantly to the target, marking and bombing it accurately. That the attack was successful was due to his magnificent effort.
After the bombs had been dropped the Lancaster dived, practically out of control. By expert airmanship and great exertion Squadron Leader Bazalgette regained control. But the port inner engine then failed and the whole of the starboard mainplane became a mass of flames.
Squadron Leader Bazalgette fought bravely to bring his aircraft and crew to safety. The mid-upper gunner was overcome by fumes. Squadron Leader Bazalgette then ordered those of his crew who were able to leave by parachute to do so. He remained at the controls and attempted the almost hopeless task of landing the crippled and blazing aircraft in a last effort to save the wounded bomb aimer and helpless gunner.
With superb skill, and taking great care to avoid a small French village nearby, he brought the aircraft down safely. Unfortunately, it then exploded and this gallant officer and his two comrades perished.
His heroic sacrifice marked the climax of a long career of operations against the enemy. He always chose the more dangerous and exacting roles. His courage and devotion to duty were beyond praise.
Bomber crews in the Second World War suffered appalling levels of attrition. Of the aircrews flying at the beginning of the conflict, fewer than 10% survived the War. At the time Bazalgette was flying operations over Germany, fewer than 25% of crews survived a single tour of operations.
Having completed his first tour and been awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross, Bazalgette was assigned to a training unit where he could have served for the remainder of the War with honour. However, this was not in the nature of the man who fought for a transfer to the elite Pathfinder Force, the responsibility of which was to locate and mark the target for the main bomber force.
As Master Bomber for the Pathfinders, Bazalgette’s 58th and final mission was the bombing of V1 rocket storage caves at Trossy St. Maximin. It is a sad irony that Bazalgette and his crew should not even have flown this mission as they were due on leave the following day, but volunteered to “get another one in before we go”.
Forty years after Bazalgette’s Lancaster F2-T ND811 crashed, a few small fragments of one of the aircraft’s Rolls-Royce Merlin engines were recovered from the crash site by British aviation archaeologists. It is from these fragments that the centrepieces of these cufflinks are made.
S/Ldr I.W. Bazalgette, VC, DFC - Killed in Action
F/L Charles Godfrey. DFC - Bailed out / survived
Sgt George Turner - Bailed out / survived
F/L Ivan Hibbert, DFC - Killed in Action
Sgt Douglas Cameron. DFM - Bailed out / survived
F/S Vernon Leeder - Killed in Action
F/L Geoffrey Goddard - Bailed out / survived
Squadron Leader Ian Willoughby Bazalgette D.F.C. (118131), R.A.F.V.R., 635 Squadron (Deceased):-
On 4th August, 1944, Squadron Leader Bazalgette was 'Master Bomber' of a Pathfinder Squadron detailed to mark an important target at Trossy-St. Maximin for the main bomber force. When nearing the target his Lancaster came under heavy anti-aircraft fire. Both starboard engines were put out of action and serious fires broke out in the fuselage, and the starboard main-plane. The bomb aimer was badly wounded.
As the deputy master bomber had already been shot down, the success of the attack depended on Squadron Leader Bazalgette, and this he knew. Despite the appalling conditions in his burning aircraft, he pressed on gallantly to the target, marking and bombing it accurately. That the attack was successful was due to his magnificent effort.
After the bombs had been dropped the Lancaster dived, practically out of control. By expert airmanship and great exertion Squadron Leader Bazalgette regained control. But the port inner engine then failed and the whole of the starboard mainplane became a mass of flames.
Squadron Leader Bazalgette fought bravely to bring his aircraft and crew to safety. The mid-upper gunner was overcome by fumes. Squadron Leader Bazalgette then ordered those of his crew who were able to leave by parachute to do so. He remained at the controls and attempted the almost hopeless task of landing the crippled and blazing aircraft in a last effort to save the wounded bomb aimer and helpless gunner.
With superb skill, and taking great care to avoid a small French village nearby, he brought the aircraft down safely. Unfortunately, it then exploded and this gallant officer and his two comrades perished.
His heroic sacrifice marked the climax of a long career of operations against the enemy. He always chose the more dangerous and exacting roles. His courage and devotion to duty were beyond praise.
Bomber crews in the Second World War suffered appalling levels of attrition. Of the aircrews flying at the beginning of the conflict, fewer than 10% survived the War. At the time Bazalgette was flying operations over Germany, fewer than 25% of crews survived a single tour of operations.
Having completed his first tour and been awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross, Bazalgette was assigned to a training unit where he could have served for the remainder of the War with honour. However, this was not in the nature of the man who fought for a transfer to the elite Pathfinder Force, the responsibility of which was to locate and mark the target for the main bomber force.
As Master Bomber for the Pathfinders, Bazalgette’s 58th and final mission was the bombing of V1 rocket storage caves at Trossy St. Maximin. It is a sad irony that Bazalgette and his crew should not even have flown this mission as they were due on leave the following day, but volunteered to “get another one in before we go”.
Forty years after Bazalgette’s Lancaster F2-T ND811 crashed, a few small fragments of one of the aircraft’s Rolls-Royce Merlin engines were recovered from the crash site by British aviation archaeologists. It is from these fragments that the centrepieces of these cufflinks are made.
S/Ldr I.W. Bazalgette, VC, DFC - Killed in Action
F/L Charles Godfrey. DFC - Bailed out / survived
Sgt George Turner - Bailed out / survived
F/L Ivan Hibbert, DFC - Killed in Action
Sgt Douglas Cameron. DFM - Bailed out / survived
F/S Vernon Leeder - Killed in Action
F/L Geoffrey Goddard - Bailed out / survived
