David Samuel Anthony Lord
Flight, -Lieutenant. Royal Air Force 271 Squadron
- Register No.
- 751 (Alf's numbering, from The Register of the Victoria Cross, 1997)
- Rank
- Flight (register: Flight Lieutenant) all Flight Lieutenants →
- Unit
- -Lieutenant. Royal Air Force 271 Squadron (register: No. 271 Squadron RAF) all No. 271 Squadron RAF VCs →
- Date of action
- 19 September 1944 on this day → all of 1944 →
- Conflict / campaign
- Second World War
- London Gazette
- 13th November 1945 on this day → all of 1945 →
- Born
- 18th October 1913 at Cork, Ireland
- Died
- 19th September, 1944 when his aircraft crashed in flames
- Award
- Posthumous all posthumous VCs →
- Memorial / grave
- grave in the Arnhem War Cemetery, Holland
Digest of citation
Whilst flying his aircraft, a Dakota, which had been detailed to drop supplies at Arnhem, Holland, during the afternoon of the 19th September, 1944. The first Airborne Division had been encircled by the enemy in a small area, surrounded by enemy anti-aircraft guns. Aircrews were warned that they would meet severe enemy aircraft fire over the dropping zone, where they were to fly at 900 ft to ensure accurate drops. The starboard wing of Flight Lieutenant Lord,s aircraft had been hit twice and the starboard engine set on fire. Ensuring that his crew were all right and the dropping zone was close he decided to complete the mission as the troops on the ground were desperately short of supplies. He dropped to 900 ft, where he was exposed to intense enemy fire. He kept the aircraft on a straight course while supplies were dropped. The run completed he was informed they still had two containers left. Realising they were still in danger from the starboard wing, he circled the area rejoining the line of aircraft and making another run to drop the remaining supplies. This action took around eight minutes, all the time under intense fire. Flight-Lieutenant Lord then ordered his crew to abandon aircraft, they were now at 500 ft A few seconds later, the wing collapsed and the aircraft crashed in flames, killing Flight Lieutenant Lord
From Alf Askin's research notes
Reproduced as Alf wrote it, c. 2000–2005. Spelling and abbreviations are his own.
LORD, David Samuel Anthony. (reg No. 751).
Flight-Lieutenant. Royal Air Force 271 Squadron.
London Gazetted on 13th November 1945.
Born on 18th October 1913 at Cork, Ireland.
Killed on 19th September, 1944 when his aircraft crashed in flames.
Memorials at grave in the Arnhem War Cemetery, Holland.
Digest of Citation reads: Whilst flying his aircraft, a Dakota, which had been detailed to drop supplies at Arnhem, Holland, during the afternoon of the 19th September, 1944. The first Airborne Division had been encircled by the enemy in a small area, surrounded by enemy anti-aircraft guns. Aircrews were warned that they would meet severe enemy aircraft fire over the dropping zone, where they were to fly at 900 ft to ensure accurate drops. The starboard wing of Flight Lieutenant Lord,s aircraft had been hit twice and the starboard engine set on fire. Ensuring that his crew were all right and the dropping zone was close he decided to complete the mission as the troops on the ground were desperately short of supplies. He dropped to 900 ft, where he was exposed to intense enemy fire. He kept the aircraft on a straight course while supplies were dropped. The run completed he was informed they still had two containers left. Realising they were still in danger from the starboard wing, he circled the area rejoining the line of aircraft and making another run to drop the remaining supplies. This action took around eight minutes, all the time under intense fire. Flight-Lieutenant Lord then ordered his crew to abandon aircraft, they were now at 500 ft A few seconds later, the wing collapsed and the aircraft crashed in flames, killing Flight Lieutenant Lord.
Additional information:. Flight Lieutenant Lord also held the Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC). He is the only Transport Command pilots to be awarded the Victoria Cross. His grave is close by those of his other two crewmen.The only survivor of the aircraft was the Navigator, Pilot Officer Harry King, whose report, delayed because he was a prisoner-of-war, told the story of that flight on his return to England. From this report Flight-Lieutenant Lord was recommended for the Victoria Cross.
Additional information
Flight Lieutenant Lord also held the Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC). He is the only Transport Command pilots to be awarded the Victoria Cross. His grave is close by those of his other two crewmen.The only survivor of the aircraft was the Navigator, Pilot Officer Harry King, whose report, delayed because he was a prisoner-of-war, told the story of that flight on his return to England. From this report Flight-Lieutenant Lord was recommended for the Victoria Cross.
Visit the grave or memorial
Alf recorded the memorial as: grave in the Arnhem War Cemetery, Holland
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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