Arthur Louis Aaron
Acting Flight Sergeant, 218 Squadron Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
- Register No.
- 1 (Alf's numbering, from The Register of the Victoria Cross, 1997)
- Rank
- Acting Flight Sergeant all Flight Sergeants →
- Unit
- 218 Squadron Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve (register: No. 218 Squadron RAF) all No. 218 Squadron RAF VCs →
- Date of action
- 12 August 1943 on this day → all of 1943 →
- Conflict / campaign
- Second World War
- London Gazette
- 5th November 1943 on this day → all of 1943 →
- Born
- 5th March 1922 at Leeds, Yorkshire
- Died
- 13th August 1943 at Bone, Algeria
- Award
- Posthumous all posthumous VCs →
- Memorial / grave
- Bone War Cemetery, Algeria and St Mary's Church, Bexwell, Norfolk
- Medal held by
- the Leeds City Museum
Digest of citation
On 12 August 1943 during a raid on Turin, Italy, Flight Sergeant Aaron's bomber was attacked by a night fighter and was very badly damaged. The navigator was killed, other members of the crew were wounded, Flight Sergeant Aaron's jaw was broken and part of his face was torn away. He had also been hit in his lung and his right arm was useless. Despite his terrible injuries he managed to level the aircraft out at 3,000 feet and then the bomb-aimer took control until he rallied his failing strength enough to direct the difficult landing operation. He died nine hours after the aircraft touched down
From Alf Askin's research notes
Reproduced as Alf wrote it, c. 2000–2005. Spelling and abbreviations are his own.
AARON, Arthur Louis (Reg No 1)
Acting Flight Sergeant 218 Squadron Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve London Gazetted on 5th November 1943.
VC Medal's Custodian is the Leeds City Museum.
Born on 5th March 1922 at Leeds, Yorkshire..
Died on 13th August 1943 at Bone, Algeria..
Memorials at Bone War Cemetery, Algeria and St Mary's Church, Bexwell, Norfolk.
Digest of Citation reads: On 12 August 1943 during a raid on Turin, Italy, Flight Sergeant Aaron's bomber was attacked by a night fighter and was very badly damaged. The navigator was killed, other members of the crew were wounded, Flight Sergeant Aaron's jaw was broken and part of his face was torn away. He had also been hit in his lung and his right arm was useless. Despite his terrible injuries he managed to level the aircraft out at 3,000 feet and then the bomb-aimer took control until he rallied his failing strength enough to direct the difficult landing operation. He died nine hours after the aircraft touched down.
Additional information: Flight Sergeant Aaron also held The Distinguished Flying Medal (DFM).
Additional information
Flight Sergeant Aaron also held The Distinguished Flying Medal (DFM).
Visit the grave or memorial
Alf recorded the memorial as: Bone War Cemetery, Algeria and St Mary's Church, Bexwell, Norfolk
Map links open a search for the place name Alf recorded; please check opening times and exact locations before travelling. Many VC graves have since been restored by the Victoria Cross Trust.
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