Military Career
Jackson completed his tour of 30 missions on 24 April 1944 but, as he had flown one sortie with a different crew, he chose to fly once more so that his original aircrew finished their tour together. Jackson's 31st mission took place on the night of 26–27 April 1944, when his crew flew in a raid on the German ball bearing factories at Schweinfurt.
Having bombed the target, Jackson's Lancaster (serial ME669) was attacked by a German night fighter and a fuel tank in the starboard wing caught fire. Jackson, already wounded from shell splinters, strapped on a parachute and equipped himself with a fire extinguisher before climbing out of the aircraft and onto the wing, whilst the aeroplane was flying at 140 mph, in order to put out the fire. He gripped the air intake on the leading edge of the wing with one hand, and fought the fire with the other. The flames seared his hands, face, and clothes. The fighter returned, and hit the bomber with a burst of gunfire that left two bullets in his legs. The burst also swept him off the wing, leaving him to fall 20,000 ft with a smouldering and holed parachute.
He suffered further injuries upon landing, including a broken ankle, but managed to crawl to a nearby German village where he was paraded through the street. He spent 10 months recovering in hospital before being transferred to the Stalag IX-C prisoner of war camp. He made two escape attempts, the second of which was successful as he made contact with a unit of the US Third Army.
Jackson was promoted to Warrant Officer and his Victoria Cross award was gazetted on 26 October 1945. When he went to Buckingham Palace to receive his VC from King George VI he was accompanied by Leonard Cheshire who was also due to receive his on that day. Cheshire insisted that despite the difference in rank (Group Captain and Warrant Officer) they should approach the King together. Jackson remembers that Cheshire said to the King "This chap stuck his neck out more than I did - he should get his VC first ! Of course the King had to keep to protocol but I will never forget what Cheshire said." (Lancaster : The Biography, Tony Iveson p230)
Read more about this topic: Norman Cyril Jackson
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