John Hannah
Sergeant, 83 Squadron. Royal Air Force
- Register No.
- 525 (Alf's numbering, from The Register of the Victoria Cross, 1997)
- Rank
- Sergeant all Sergeants →
- Unit
- 83 Squadron. Royal Air Force (register: No. 83 Squadron RAF) all No. 83 Squadron RAF VCs →
- Date of action
- 15 September 1940 on this day → all of 1940 →
- Conflict / campaign
- Second World War
- London Gazette
- 1st October 1940 on this day → all of 1940 →
- Born
- 27th November 1921 at Paisley, Renfrewshire, Scotland
- Died
- 7th June, 1947 at Birstall, Leicestershire
- Memorial / grave
- St James's Churchyard, Birstall, Leicestershire
- Medal held by
- the RAF Museum, Hendon, London
Digest of citation
On 15th September, 1940 over Antwerp, Belgium, after a successful attack on German barges, the Bomber in which Sergeant Hannah was wireless operator/Air Gunner, was subjected to intense anti-aircraft fire, starting a fire which spread quickly. The rear-gunner and Navigator had to bale out and Sergeant Hannah could have acted likewise, but instead he remained to fight the fire, first with two extinguishers and then with his bare hands. He sustained terrible injuries, but succeeded in putting out the fire and the pilot was able to bring the almost wrecked aircraft back safely
From Alf Askin's research notes
Reproduced as Alf wrote it, c. 2000–2005. Spelling and abbreviations are his own.
HANNAH, John. (reg No. 525).
Sergeant. 83 Squadron. Royal Air Force.
Gazetted on 1st October 1940.
Born on 27th November 1921 at Paisley, Renfrewshire, Scotland.
Died on 7th June, 1947 at Birstall, Leicestershire.
Memorial on grave St James's Churchyard, Birstall, Leicestershire. VCs Medal's Custodian is the RAF Museum, Hendon, London.
Digest of Citation reads: On 15th September, 1940 over Antwerp, Belgium, after a successful attack on German barges, the Bomber in which Sergeant Hannah was wireless operator/Air Gunner, was subjected to intense anti-aircraft fire, starting a fire which spread quickly. The rear-gunner and Navigator had to bale out and Sergeant Hannah could have acted likewise, but instead he remained to fight the fire, first with two extinguishers and then with his bare hands. He sustained terrible injuries, but succeeded in putting out the fire and the pilot was able to bring the almost wrecked aircraft back safely.
Visit the grave or memorial
Alf recorded the memorial as: St James's Churchyard, Birstall, Leicestershire
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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