Rawdon Hume Middleton
Flight Sergeant, Royal Australian Air Force
- Register No.
- 864 (Alf's numbering, from The Register of the Victoria Cross, 1997)
- Rank
- Flight Sergeant all Flight Sergeants →
- Unit
- Royal Australian Air Force all Royal Australian Air Force VCs →
- London Gazette
- 15th January 1943 on this day → all of 1943 →
- Born
- 22nd July 1916 at Waverley, New South Wales, Australia
- Died
- the 29th November, 1942 after his plane crashed in the
- Memorial / grave
- St John's Churchyard, Mildenhall, Suffolk also on the Australian War Memorial, Canberra, Australia
Digest of citation
Flight Sergeant Middleton, as captain of a Stirling bomber which had been damaged by anti-aircraft fire during a raid on Turin, Italy, on the night of the 28th/29th November, 1942. Sergeant Middleton's right eye was severely damaged and the second pilot and wireless operator were both wounded when a shell exploded in the cockpit. Although he aircraft had been severely damaged by anti-aircraft fire, the bombs were released over the target. The aircraft managed to fly over the Alps with difficulty when making for home and had insufficient fuel for the whole journey. Nearing the English coast Flight Sergeant Middleton ordered the rest of the crew to bale out. Then, to avoid further civilian casualties, he crashed the plane into the sea
From Alf Askin's research notes
Reproduced as Alf wrote it, c. 2000–2005. Spelling and abbreviations are his own.
MIDDLETON, Rawdon Hume. (reg No. 864).
Flight Sergeant. Royal Australian Air Force * London Gazetted 15th January 1943.
Born on 22nd July 1916 at Waverley, New South Wales, Australia.
Died on the 29th November, 1942 after his plane crashed in the sea near Dymchurch, Kent Memorial at St John's Churchyard, Mildenhall, Suffolk also on the Australian War Memorial, Canberra, Australia.
Digest of Citation reads: Flight Sergeant Middleton, as captain of a Stirling bomber which had been damaged by anti-aircraft fire during a raid on Turin, Italy, on the night of the 28th/29th November, 1942. Sergeant Middleton's right eye was severely damaged and the second pilot and wireless operator were both wounded when a shell exploded in the cockpit. Although he aircraft had been severely damaged by anti-aircraft fire, the bombs were released over the target. The aircraft managed to fly over the Alps with difficulty when making for home and had insufficient fuel for the whole journey. Nearing the English coast Flight Sergeant Middleton ordered the rest of the crew to bale out. Then, to avoid further civilian casualties, he crashed the plane into the sea.
* Whilst serving with 149 Squadron, Royal Air Force.
Additional information:. With effect from the 14th November 1942 his promotion to Pilot Officer had been posted. This was notified posthumously.
Additional information
With effect from the 14th November 1942 his promotion to Pilot Officer had been posted. This was notified posthumously.
* Whilst serving with 149 Squadron, Royal Air Force.
sea near Dymchurch, Kent
Visit the grave or memorial
Alf recorded the memorial as: St John's Churchyard, Mildenhall, Suffolk also on the Australian War Memorial, Canberra, Australia
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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