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Ian Willoughby Bazalgette was born in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, on 19 October 1918, and while serving in the Royal Air Force was awarded the Victoria Cross.-
Bazalgette, who enlisted in the Royal Artillery in 1939 and transferred to the Royal Air Force in 1941, was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross in 1943 for his “great courage and determination in the face of the enemy.â€
On 4 August 1944, on a mission to mark V-1 rocket storage caves in France for bombers, his Lancaster was severely damaged by anti-aircraft fire; both starboard engines were knocked out, the starboard wing was on fire and two crew members were wounded.
As the deputy ‘master bomber’ had already been shot down, the success of the attack depended on Squadron Leader Bazalgette, and despite the damage to his aircraft he pressed on to the target, marking and bombing it accurately. After the bombs had been dropped the Lancaster dived, practically out of control. Bazalgette regained control, but the port inner engine failed and the starboard mainplane became a mass of flames.
Near the village of Senantes he ordered able crew to bail out, then found a field and landed the flaming aircraft, which immediately exploded, killing Bazalgette and the wounded crewmen.
His grave is at Senantes Churchyard, 13 miles north-west of Beauvais, France. His Victoria Cross is displayed at the Royal Air Force Museum in Hendon, England.-
Bazalgette, who enlisted in the Royal Artillery in 1939 and transferred to the Royal Air Force in 1941, was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross in 1943 for his “great courage and determination in the face of the enemy.â€
On 4 August 1944, on a mission to mark V-1 rocket storage caves in France for bombers, his Lancaster was severely damaged by anti-aircraft fire; both starboard engines were knocked out, the starboard wing was on fire and two crew members were wounded.
As the deputy ‘master bomber’ had already been shot down, the success of the attack depended on Squadron Leader Bazalgette, and despite the damage to his aircraft he pressed on to the target, marking and bombing it accurately. After the bombs had been dropped the Lancaster dived, practically out of control. Bazalgette regained control, but the port inner engine failed and the starboard mainplane became a mass of flames.
Near the village of Senantes he ordered able crew to bail out, then found a field and landed the flaming aircraft, which immediately exploded, killing Bazalgette and the wounded crewmen.
His grave is at Senantes Churchyard, 13 miles north-west of Beauvais, France. His Victoria Cross is displayed at the Royal Air Force Museum in Hendon, England.-
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