Donald Edward Garland
Flying Officer, 12 Squadron, Royal Air Force
- Register No.
- 443 (Alf's numbering, from The Register of the Victoria Cross, 1997)
- Rank
- Flying Officer all Flying Officers →
- Unit
- 12 Squadron, Royal Air Force (register: No. 12 Squadron RAF) all No. 12 Squadron RAF VCs →
- Date of action
- 12 May 1940 on this day → all of 1940 →
- Conflict / campaign
- Second World War
- London Gazette
- 11th June 1940 on this day → all of 1940 →
- Born
- 20th June 1918 at Ballinacor, County Wicklow, Ireland
- Died
- 12th May, 1940 at Maastricht, Holland. (killed in action)
- Award
- Posthumous all posthumous VCs →
- Memorial / grave
- Heverlee War Cemetery, Louvain, Belgium
- Medal held by
- the RAF Museum, Hendon, London
Digest of citation
On 12th May, 1940 over the Albert Canal, Belgium, one bridge in particular was being used by the invading army, with protection from fighter aircraft, anti-aircraft and machine guns. The RAF was ordered to demolish this vital bridge, and five Fairey Battle bombers were dispatched with Flying Officer Garland leading the attack. They met an inferno of anti-aircraft fire, but the mission was accomplished, due to the expert leadership of Flying Officer Garland and the coolness and resource of his Navigator *. Only one bomber managed to get back to base, the leading aircraft and three others did not return
From Alf Askin's research notes
Reproduced as Alf wrote it, c. 2000–2005. Spelling and abbreviations are his own.
GARLAND, Donald Edward. (reg No. 443).
Flying Officer. 12 Squadron, Royal Air Force.
London Gazetted on 11th June 1940.
Born on 20th June 1918 at Ballinacor, County Wicklow, Ireland.
Died on 12th May, 1940 at Maastricht, Holland. (killed in action).
Memorial at Heverlee War Cemetery, Louvain, Belgium. VCs Medal's Custodian is the RAF Museum, Hendon, London.
Digest of Citation reads: On 12th May, 1940 over the Albert Canal, Belgium, one bridge in particular was being used by the invading army, with protection from fighter aircraft, anti-aircraft and machine guns. The RAF was ordered to demolish this vital bridge, and five Fairey Battle bombers were dispatched with Flying Officer Garland leading the attack. They met an inferno of anti-aircraft fire, but the mission was accomplished, due to the expert leadership of Flying Officer Garland and the coolness and resource of his Navigator *. Only one bomber managed to get back to base, the leading aircraft and three others did not return.
* T. Gray. (reg No. 484).
* T. Gray. (reg No. 484).
Visit the grave or memorial
Alf recorded the memorial as: Heverlee War Cemetery, Louvain, Belgium
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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