Ian Willoughby Bazalgette
Recipient of the Victoria Cross
Died when: 25 years 290 days (309 months)Star Sign: Libra
Squadron Leader Ian Willoughby Bazalgette VC DFC (19 October 1918 – 4 August 1944) was a Canadian-British pilot in the Royal Air Force during the Second World War.
On 4 August 1944, while piloting an Avro Lancaster in a pathfinder role, Bazalgette and crew flew to Trossy St.Maximin in France to mark a V-1 flying bomb storage cave.
Bazalgette's Lancaster was severely damaged by flak prior to arrival at the target and quickly set on fire.Despite the condition of his aircraft, Bazalgette continued to the target and accurately dropped his markers.
After completing the task, Bazalgette ordered his crew to bail out, however, two members of the crew were wounded and unable to jump.
Rather than saving himself and leaving the two men to die, Bazalgette attempted to land the burning plane to save his two crew members.
Bazalgette landed the plane, but it exploded almost immediately upon alighting, killing all three airmen.For his actions, Bazalgette was posthumously awarded the Victoria Cross.
Related People
Recipient of the Victoria Cross
Recipient of the Victoria Cross
Recipient of the Victoria Cross