Leslie Thomas Manser
Flying Officer, 50 Squadron. Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
- Register No.
- 834 (Alf's numbering, from The Register of the Victoria Cross, 1997)
- Rank
- Flying Officer all Flying Officers →
- Unit
- 50 Squadron. Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve (register: No. 50 Squadron RAF) all No. 50 Squadron RAF VCs →
- Date of action
- 30 May 1942 on this day → all of 1942 →
- Conflict / campaign
- Second World War
- London Gazette
- 23rd October, 1942 on this day → all of 1942 →
- Born
- 11th May 1922 at New Delhi, India
- Died
- 31st May 1942 when his aircraft crashed in flames in
- Award
- Posthumous all posthumous VCs →
- Memorial / grave
- at Heverlee War Cemetery, Belgium and at Christ Church, Radlett, Hertfordshire
Digest of citation
Flying Officer Manser was the captain of a Manchester bomber in a raid on Cologne on the night of May 30th, 1942. His aircraft was caught in Searchlights and subjected to heavy, accurate anti-aircraft fire as the aircraft approached it's target. The target was bombed from a height of 7000 ft. As they made for home the aircraft was still under heavy fire and had been seriously damaged. Flying Officer Manser descended to 1000 ft to take evasive action, to no avail. Captured in the searchlight they were continually hit by flak, wounding the rear-gunner. The cabin was filled with smoke and the port engine was giving trouble. Determined to save his aircraft, and crew, from falling into enemy hands, he took the aircraft up to 2000 ft and the port engine burst into flames. When he realised that a crash was inevitable, he gave the order to bale out. The Manchester aircraft, carrying Flying Officer Manser was seen, by the parachuting crew, to crash in flames
From Alf Askin's research notes
Reproduced as Alf wrote it, c. 2000–2005. Spelling and abbreviations are his own.
MANSER, Leslie Thomas. (reg No. 834).
Flying Officer. 50 Squadron. Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve.
London Gazetted on 23rd October, 1942.
Born on 11th May 1922 at New Delhi, India.
Died on 31st May 1942 when his aircraft crashed in flames in Belgium.
Memorial on grave at Heverlee War Cemetery, Belgium and at Christ Church, Radlett, Hertfordshire.
Digest of Citation reads Flying Officer Manser was the captain of a Manchester bomber in a raid on Cologne on the night of May 30th, 1942. His aircraft was caught in Searchlights and subjected to heavy, accurate anti-aircraft fire as the aircraft approached it's target. The target was bombed from a height of 7000 ft. As they made for home the aircraft was still under heavy fire and had been seriously damaged. Flying Officer Manser descended to 1000 ft to take evasive action, to no avail. Captured in the searchlight they were continually hit by flak, wounding the rear-gunner. The cabin was filled with smoke and the port engine was giving trouble. Determined to save his aircraft, and crew, from falling into enemy hands, he took the aircraft up to 2000 ft and the port engine burst into flames. When he realised that a crash was inevitable, he gave the order to bale out. The Manchester aircraft, carrying Flying Officer Manser was seen, by the parachuting crew, to crash in flames.
Additional information:. Flying Officer Manser was the brother-in-law of Captain J N Randle VC of the Royal Norfolk Regiment.
Additional information
Flying Officer Manser was the brother-in-law of Captain J N Randle VC of the Royal Norfolk Regiment.
Belgium.
Visit the grave or memorial
Alf recorded the memorial as: at Heverlee War Cemetery, Belgium and at Christ Church, Radlett, Hertfordshire
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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