Hannah Parade - Birstall
World War II
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ContributeMetal plaque mounted on wooden board on brick wall. UKNIWM refers to wooden-framed mirror on wall with names on small metal plaques surrounding frame and cross at top centre in Church - refers to this memorial?
Location
Hannah Parade - Birstall
Grid Reference: SK5932009429
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Inscription Reads
ROYAL AIR FORCE AWARD NO.114
THE KING HAS BEEN GRACIOUSLY PLEASED TO CONFER THE VICTORIA CROSS ON
THE UNDERMENTIONED AIRMAN IN RECOGNITION OF MOST CONSPICUOUS BRAVERY:-
52918 SERGEANT JOHN HANNAH
ON THE NIGHT OF 15TH SEPTEMBER 1940, SERGEANT HANNAH WAS THE WIRELESS
OPERATOR/AIR GUNNER IN AN AIRCRAFT ENGAGED IN A SUCCESSFUL ATTACK ON ENEMY
BARGE CONCENTRATIONS AT ANTWERP. IT WAS THEN SUBJECTED TO INTENSE ANTI-
AIRCRAFT FIRE AND RECEIVED A DIRECT HIT FROM A PROJECTILE OF AN EXPLOSIVE AND
INCENDIARY NATURE, WHICH APPARENTLY BURST INSIDE THE BOMB COMPARTMENT.
A FIRE STARTED WHICH QUICKLY ENVELOPED THE WIRELESS OPERATOR'S AND REAR
GUNNER'S COCKPITS, AND AS BOTH THE PORT AND STARBOARD PETROL TANKS HAD BEEN
PIERCED, THERE WAS GRAVE RISK OF THE FIRE SPREADING. SERGEANT HANNAH FORCED
HIS WAY THROUGH THE FIRE TO OBTAIN TWO EXTINGUISHERS AND DISCOVERED THAT THE
REAR GUNNER HAD HAD TO LEAVE THE AIRCRAFT. HE COULD HAVE ACTED LIKEWISE,
THROUGH THE BOTTOM ESCAPE HATCH OR FORWARD THROUGH THE NAVIGATOR'S HATCH, BUT
REMAINED AND FOUGHT THE FIRE FOR TEN MINUTES WITH THE EXTINGUISHERS, BEATING
THE FLAMES WITH HIS LOG BOOK WHEN THESE WERE EMPTY.
DURING THIS TIME THOUSANDS OF ROUNDS OF AMMUNITION EXPLODED IN ALL
DIRECTIONS AND HE WAS ALMOST BLINDED BY THE INTENSE HEAT AND FUMES. BUT HAD
THE PRESENCE OF MIND TO OBTAIN RELIEF BY TURNING ON HIS OXYGEN SUPPLY. AIR
ADMITTED THROUGH THE LARGE HOLES CAUSED BY THE PROJECTILE, AND MADE THE BOMB
COMPARTMENT AN INFERNO AND ALL THE ALUMINIUM SHEET METAL ON THE FLOOR OF THIS
AIRMAN'S COCKPIT MELTED AWAY, LEAVING ONLY THE CROSS BEARERS.
WORKING UNDER THESE CONDITIONS, WHICH CAUSED BURNS TO HIS FACE AND EYES,
SERGEANT HANNAH SUCCEEDED IN EXTINGUISHING THE FIRE. HE THEN CRAWLED FORWARD,
SCERTAINED THAT THE NAVIGATOR HAD LEFT THE AIRCRAFT, AND PASSED THE LATTER'S
LOG AND MAPS TO THE PILOT.
THIS AIRMAN DISPLAYED COURAGE, COOLNESS AND DEVOTION TO DUTY OF THE
HIGHEST ORDER AND BY HIS ACTION IN REMAINING AND S SUCCESSFULLY EXTINGUISHING
THE FIRE UNDER CONDITIONS OF THE GREATEST DANGER AND DIFFICULTY, ENABLED THE
PILOT TO BRING THE AIRCRAFT TO IT'S BASE.