| Sergeant Norman Jackson Victoria Cross | | | | rigging lines spilled into the cockpit. Undeterred, |
| On the 26/27 April 1944 during the Second World War, | | | | Sergeant Jackson continued. The pilot, bomb aimer |
| 215 Lancasters and 11 Mosquitoes attacked and raided | | | | and navigator gathered the parachute together and |
| Schweinfurt. | | | | held on to the rigging lines, paying them out as the |
| Strong headwinds, enemy fighter planes attacking | | | | airman crawled aft. Eventually he slipped and, falling |
| them and the wrong marking of the target all added to | | | | from the fuselage to the starboard wing, grasped an |
| the drama that was about to unfold. This drama, even | | | | air intake on the leading edge of the wing. He |
| today has readers drawing in breath as he becomes | | | | succeeded in clinging on but lost the extinguisher, which |
| horrified by the events. | | | | was blown away. |
| Sgt Norman Jackson won his Victoria Cross for his | | | | By this time, the fire had spread rapidly and Sergeant |
| exploits on this night for an act of heroism which could | | | | Jackson was involved. His face, hands and clothing |
| be classed as one of the most amazing and unusual | | | | were severely burnt. Unable to retain his hold, he was |
| events of the war. | | | | swept through the flames and over the trailing edge of |
| It was also on this night that the Captain of the | | | | the wing, dragging his parachute behind. When last |
| Lancaster and the Rear Gunner were killed. The rest | | | | seen it was only partly inflated and was burning in a |
| of the crew were captured and became prisoners of | | | | number of places. |
| war till the end of the war. | | | | Realising that the fire could not be controlled, the |
| Sgt Norman Jack sons' heroic actions only came to | | | | captain gave the order to abandon aircraft. Four of the |
| light when the crew came back together after the | | | | remaining members of the crew landed safely. The |
| war. Norman had never mentioned it to anyone! | | | | captain and rear gunner have not been accounted for. |
| Sgt Norman Jackson was in 106 Squadron, Royal Air | | | | Sergeant Jackson was unable to control his descent |
| Force Volunteer reserve. | | | | and landed heavily. He sustained a broken ankle, his |
| Born Ealing, W London, 8 April 1919 | | | | right eye was closed through burns and his hands |
| He died in 1994 and is buried at the Percy Road | | | | were useless. These injuries, together with the wounds |
| Cemetery, Twickenham, Middlesex. | | | | received earlier, reduced him to a pitiable state. At |
| He was presented with his Victoria Cross by King | | | | daybreak he crawled to the nearest village, where he |
| George VI at Buckingham Palace on the 13th | | | | was taken prisoner. He bore the intense pain and |
| November 1945 | | | | discomfort of the journey to Dulag Luft with |
| His Citation reads from | | | | magnificent fortitude. After 10 months in hospital he |
| London Gazette, 26 October 1945 | | | | made a good recovery, though his hands required |
| Raid on Schweinfurt, Germany, 26 April 1944, Sergeant | | | | further treatment and were only of limited use. |
| Norman Jackson, 106 Squadron, RAFVR. | | | | This airman's attempt to extinguish the fire and save |
| In recognition of most conspicuous bravery. This | | | | the aircraft and crew from falling into enemy hands |
| airman was the flight engineer in a Lancaster bomber | | | | was an act of outstanding gallantry. To venture |
| detailed to attack Schweinfurt on the night of 26th | | | | outside, when travelling at 200 miles an hour, at a great |
| April 1944. Bombs were dropped successfully and the | | | | height and in intense cold, was an almost incredible |
| aircraft was climbing out of the target area. Suddenly it | | | | feat. Had he succeeded in subduing the flames, there |
| was attacked by a fighter at about 20,000 feet. The | | | | was little or no prospect of his regaining the cockpit. |
| captain took evading action at once but the enemy | | | | The spilling of his parachute and the risk of grave |
| secured many hits. A fire started near a petrol tank on | | | | damage to its canopy reduced his chances of survival |
| the upper surface of the starboard wing, between the | | | | to a minimum. By his ready willingness to face these |
| fuselage and the inner engine. Sergeant Jackson was | | | | dangers he set an example of self-sacrifice which will |
| thrown to the floor during the engagement. Wounds | | | | ever be remembered |
| which he received from shell splinters in the right leg | | | | Sgt Norman Jacksons medals were |
| and shoulder were probably sustained at that time. | | | | Victoria Cross |
| Recovering himself, he remarked that he could deal | | | | 1939-45 Star |
| with the fire on the wing and obtained his captain's | | | | Air Crew Europe Star |
| permission to try to put out the flames. | | | | Italy Star |
| Pushing a hand fire-extinguisher into the top of his | | | | Defence Medal ( 1939-45 ) |
| life-saving jacket and slipping on his parachute pack, | | | | War Medal ( 1939-45 ) |
| Sergeant Jackson jettisoned the escape hatch above | | | | Queen Elizabeth II Coronation Medal ( 1953 ) |
| the pilot's head. He then started to climb out of the | | | | Queen Elizabeth II Silver Jubilee Medal ( 1977 ) |
| cockpit and back along the top of the fuselage to the | | | | They were sold by Spink for £200,000 in April |
| starboard wing. Before he could leave the fuselage his | | | | 2004. |
| parachute pack opened and the whole canopy and | | | | |