Ian Willoughby Bazalgette
Squadron Leader, 635 Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
- Register No.
- 64 (Alf's numbering, from The Register of the Victoria Cross, 1997)
- Rank
- Squadron Leader all Squadron Leaders →
- Unit
- 635 Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve (register: No. 635 Squadron RAF) all No. 635 Squadron RAF VCs →
- Date of action
- 4 August 1944 on this day → all of 1944 →
- Conflict / campaign
- Second World War
- London Gazette
- 17th August 1945 on this day → all of 1945 →
- Born
- 19th October 1918 at Calgary, Alberta, Canada
- Died
- 4th August 1944 at Senantes, France. (Killed in action)
- Award
- Posthumous all posthumous VCs →
- Medal held by
- the Royal Air Force Museum
Digest of citation
On 4th August 1944 at Trossy St. Maximin, north-west Europe, Squadron Leader Bazalgette was one of the marking formation spearhead on a daylight raid. When near his target his Lancaster came under heavy anti-aircraft fire, both starboard engines were put out of action and serious fires broke out. In spite of this the squadron leader pressed on to the target, marking and bombing it accurately. He then attempted to bring the burning aircraft safety, having ordered those of the crew who were able to do so to bail out. He managed to land the Lancaster, but it immediately exploded, killing him and his two wounded crew members
From Alf Askin's research notes
Reproduced as Alf wrote it, c. 2000–2005. Spelling and abbreviations are his own.
BAZALGETTE, Ian Willoughby. (Reg. No. 64).
Squadron Leader 635 Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve.
London Gazetted on 17th August 1945.
VC Medal's Custodian is the Royal Air Force Museum.
Born on 19th October 1918 at Calgary, Alberta, Canada.
Died on 4th August 1944 at Senantes, France. (Killed in action).
Digest of Citation reads: On 4th August 1944 at Trossy St. Maximin, north-west Europe, Squadron Leader Bazalgette was one of the marking formation spearhead on a daylight raid. When near his target his Lancaster came under heavy anti-aircraft fire, both starboard engines were put out of action and serious fires broke out. In spite of this the squadron leader pressed on to the target, marking and bombing it accurately. He then attempted to bring the burning aircraft safety, having ordered those of the crew who were able to do so to bail out. He managed to land the Lancaster, but it immediately exploded, killing him and his two wounded crew members.
Additional information: H was also awarded the DFC
Additional information
H was also awarded the DFC
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