John Alexander Cruickshank
Flying Officer, 210 Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
- Register No.
- 280 (Alf's numbering, from The Register of the Victoria Cross, 1997)
- Rank
- Flying Officer all Flying Officers →
- Unit
- 210 Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve (register: No. 210 Squadron RAF) all No. 210 Squadron RAF VCs →
- Date of action
- 17–18 July 1944 on this day → all of 1944 →
- Conflict / campaign
- Second World War
- London Gazette
- 1st September, 1944 on this day → all of 1944 →
- Born
- 20th May, 1920 at Aberdeen, Scotland
Digest of citation
On 17th/18th July, 1944 Flying Officer Cruikshank, on an anti-submarine patrol in northern waters was attacking a U-boat in a hail of a flak shells when one burst inside the aircraft, causing a great deal of damage. One member of the crew was killed and two wounded, and although he too had been hit * Flying Officer Cruikshank went in again, releasing his depth charges, which straddled a U-boat perfectly, and it sank. On the hazardous five and a half hour return journey the Flying Officer several times lost consciousness, but insisted on helping to land the Catalina
From Alf Askin's research notes
Reproduced as Alf wrote it, c. 2000–2005. Spelling and abbreviations are his own.
CRUICKSHANK, John Alexander. (reg No. 280).
Flying Officer. 210 Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve.
London Gazetted on 1st September, 1944.
Born on 20th May, 1920 at Aberdeen, Scotland.
Digest of Citation reads: On 17th/18th July, 1944 Flying Officer Cruikshank, on an anti-submarine patrol in northern waters was attacking a U-boat in a hail of a flak shells when one burst inside the aircraft, causing a great deal of damage. One member of the crew was killed and two wounded, and although he too had been hit * Flying Officer Cruikshank went in again, releasing his depth charges, which straddled a U-boat perfectly, and it sank. On the hazardous five and a half hour return journey the Flying Officer several times lost consciousness, but insisted on helping to land the Catalina.
* He had received 72 wounds.
Additional information:. Flight Lieutenant Cruikshank later became ADC to the Lord High Commissioner of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland for the period 1946-48.
Additional information
Flight Lieutenant Cruikshank later became ADC to the Lord High Commissioner of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland for the period 1946-48.
* He had received 72 wounds.
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