John Alexander Cruickshank VC, the RAF’s last living recipient of the Victoria Cross, celebrated his 100th birthday on 20 May. To mark this, the RAF Association awarded John a certificate signed by Association President Sir Baz North. John has been a long-standing member of the Association, and is currently President of Aberdeen Branch.
Born in Aberdeen in 1920, John started work with the Commercial Bank of Scotland in 1938. At the outbreak of war he was called for service with the Royal Artillery, but in early 1941 he applied for a transfer to the RAF. By July he had begun basic training, then spent time in Canada and the USA before being awarded his pilot wings in July 1942. He was commissioned as a Pilot Officer in the RAF Volunteer Reserve.
John arrived in England in October 1942, and was posted to No 4 (Coastal) OTU at Invergordon for operational training and crewing. He joined 210 Squadron as a fully-qualified pilot in March 1943, on Consolidated Catalina flying boats.Promoted to Flight Lieutenant in July 1944, John Cruickshank was by now one of the most experienced, dependable and skilled aircraft captains in his squadron, having completed 24 operational sorties plus many non-operational flights.
On 17 July 1944, John’s Catalina flying boat took off with its 10-man crew. The sortie was being flown to provide anti-submarine cover for ships involved in Operation Mascot; an attempt by carrier-based aircraft to destroy the German battleship Tirpitz moored near Norway’s North Cape.
The events of that day, which saw John receive the highest award available to the armed forces for gallantry in action with the enemy, were recounted in The London Gazette:
Air Office, 1st September, 1944.
The KING has been graciously pleased to confer the VICTORIA CROSS on the undermentioned officer in recognition of most conspicuous bravery: —
Flying Officer John Alexander CRUICKSHANK (126700), Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve. No. 210 Squadron.
This officer was the captain and pilot of a Catalina flying boat which was recently engaged on an anti-submarine patrol over northern waters. When a U-boat was sighted on the surface, Flying Officer Cruickshank at once turned to the attack. In the face of fierce anti-aircraft fire he manoeuvred into position and ran in to release his depth charges. Unfortunately they failed to drop.
Flying Officer Cruickshank knew that the failure of this attack had deprived him of the advantage of surprise and that his aircraft offered a good target to the enemy’s determined and now heartened gunners.
Without hesitation, he climbed and turned to come in again. The Catalina was met by intense and accurate fire and was repeatedly hit. The navigator/bomb aimer was killed. The second pilot and two other members of the crew were injured. Flying Officer Cruickshank was struck in seventy-two places, receiving two serious wounds in the lungs and ten penetrating wounds in the lower limbs. His aircraft was badly damaged and filled with the fumes of exploding shells. But he did not falter. He pressed home his attack, and released the depth charges himself, straddling the submarine perfectly. The U-boat was sunk.
He then collapsed and the second pilot took over the controls. He recovered shortly afterwards and, though bleeding profusely, insisted on resuming command and retaining it until he was satisfied that the damaged aircraft was under control, that a course had been set for base and that all the necessary signals had been sent. Only then would he consent to receive medical aid and have his wounds attended to. He refused morphia in case it might prevent him from carrying on.
During the next five and half hours of the return flight he several times lapsed into unconsciousness owing to loss of blood. When he came to, his first thought on each occasion was for the safety of his aircraft and crew. The damaged aircraft eventually reached base but it was clear that an immediate landing would be a hazardous task for the wounded and less experienced second pilot. Although able to breathe only with the greatest difficulty, Flying Officer Cruickshank insisted on being carried forward and propped up in the second pilot’s seat. For a full hour, in spite of his agony and ever-increasing weakness, he gave orders as necessary, refusing to allow the aircraft to be brought down until the conditions of light and sea made this possible without undue risk.
With his assistance the aircraft was safely landed on the water. He then directed the taxying and beaching of the aircraft so that it could easily be salvaged. When the medical officer went on board, Flying Officer Cruickshank collapsed and he had to be given a blood transfusion before he could be removed to hospital.
By pressing home the second attack in his gravely wounded condition and continuing his exertions on the return journey with his strength failing all the time, he seriously prejudiced his chance of survival even if the aircraft safely reached its base. Throughout, he set an example of determination, fortitude and devotion to duty in keeping with the highest traditions of the Service.
– Fourth Supplement to The London Gazette of 29 August 1944. 1 September 1944, Numb. 36682, p. 4073
