Ian Bazalgette
Ian Bazalgette | |
---|---|
Second World War
| |
Awards | Victoria Cross Distinguished Flying Cross |
Early years
Ian Willoughby Bazalgette was born in
Second World War
When the
After completing 10 more operations successfully on raids against heavily defended targets, including
With the end of his tour of 28 operations, Bazalgette was posted as an instructor and Flight Commander to No. 20 OTU in Lossiemouth, Scotland, before he was "recruited" for the Pathfinders.[4] He transferred in April 1944 to No. 635 Squadron RAF, part of No. 8 (Pathfinder Force) Group, based at RAF Downham Market in Norfolk.
When his conversion training was completed, 25-year-old "Baz" flew as an acting
Final operation
On 4 August 1944 at Trossy St. Maximin, France, Squadron Leader Bazalgette's Lancaster III ND811[5] of No. 635 Squadron RAF was among a formation tasked to mark German positions for the main bomber force. When near the target, his bomber came under severe anti-aircraft fire from the ground, putting both starboard engines out of action and causing a serious fire. 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 was on fire.
Bazalgette ordered the members of his crew who were able to (F/L Charles Godfrey DFC, Sgt George Turner, F/O Douglas Cameron DFM, and F/L Geoffrey Goddard) to bail out. He then attempted to bring the burning aircraft to safety by attempting to land the crippled plane near Senantes (Oise). But it exploded, killing him and the remaining two wounded crew members, F/L Ivan Hibbert DFC and F/S Vernon Leeder.[6] A memorial to Bazalgette, Hibbert, and Leeder can be seen along the road beside the farm where he landed the plane. 49°29′44″N 1°50′03″E / 49.495556°N 1.834167°E.
Coincidentally, Flying Officer Cameron had also been a member of Flight Sergeant Ron Middleton's crew when the Australian was awarded a posthumous Victoria Cross.
Bazalgette's grave is at Senantes Churchyard,[7] 13 miles northwest of Beauvais, France. His Victoria Cross is displayed at the Royal Air Force Museum in Hendon, England.
Bazalgette Gardens in New Malden, Surrey, where he had attended Beverley Boys School, was named in his honour during the early 1950s. A school in Calgary, Ian Bazalgette Junior High School, is also named after him.[8]
Bazalgette Memorial Lancaster
At the Nanton Lancaster Society Air Museum, now the Bomber Command Museum of Canada (located in
References
- Notes
- ^ Canada, Veterans Affairs. "Ian Willoughby Bazalgette – The Canadian Virtual War Memorial – Veterans Affairs Canada". veterans.gc.ca. Retrieved 23 July 2018.
- ^ a b Feast 2006, p. 168.
- ^ Feast 2006, p. 169.
- ^ Feast 2006, p. 170.
- ^ Record for Lancaster Mk.III ND811 F2-A on lostaircraft.com
- ^ "No. 37228". The London Gazette (Supplement). 14 August 1945. p. 4185.
- ^ "Ian Willoughby Bazalgette - the Canadian Virtual War Memorial - Veterans Affairs Canada". 20 February 2019.
- ^ Website of Ian Bazalgette Junior High School, Calgary Archived 3 February 2008 at the Wayback Machine
- Bibliography
- Feast, Sean. Heroic Endeavour: One Attack, a Victoria Cross and 206 Brave Men. London: Grub Street, 2006. ISBN 1-904943-51-9.