Arthur Louis Aaron

Aaron, 21 years old, was flying Stirling serial number EF452 on his 20th sortie.

Nearing the target, his bomber was struck by machine gun fire.

The bomber's Canadian navigator (Cornelius A. Brennan) was killed, and other members of the crew were wounded.

The official citation for his VC reads:

Arthur Louis Aaron, (5 March 1922 – 13 August 1943) was a Royal Air Force pilot in the Second World War.

He flew 90 operational flying hours and 19 sorties, and was awarded with the Distinguished Flying Medal and (posthumously) the Victoria Cross.

Aaron was a native of Leeds, Yorkshire, and was educated at Roundhay School and Leeds School of Architecture.

When the Second World War started in 1939, Aaron joined the Air Training Corps squadron at Leeds University.

The following year he volunteered to train as aircrew in the Royal Air Force.

He trained as a pilot in the United States at No. 1 British Flying Training School at Terrell Municipal Airport in Terrell, Texas.

Aaron completed his pilot training on 15 September 1941 and returned to England to train at an Operation Conversion Unit before he joined No. 218 (Gold Coast) Squadron RAF, flying Short Stirling heavy bombers from RAF Downham Market.

His first operational sortie was a mining sortie in the Bay of Biscay, but he was soon flying missions over Germany.

On one sortie, his Stirling was badly damaged, but he completed his bombing run and returned to England.

His actions were rewarded with a Distinguished Flying Medal.

"Air Ministry, 5th November, 1943. The has been graciously pleased to confer the on the undermentioned airman in recognition of most conspicuous bravery:—

1458181 Acting Flight Sergeant Arthur Louis, D.F.M., Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, No. 218 Squadron (deceased).

On the night of 12 August 1943, Flight Sergeant Aaron was captain and pilot of a Stirling aircraft detailed to attack Turin.

When approaching to attack, the bomber received devastating bursts of fire from an enemy fighter.

Three engines were hit, the windscreen shattered, the front and rear turrets put out of action and the elevator control damaged, causing the aircraft to become unstable and difficult to control.

The navigator was killed and other members of the crew were wounded.

A bullet struck Flight Sergeant Aaron in the face, breaking his jaw and tearing away part of his face.

He was also wounded in the lung and his right arm was rendered useless.

As he fell forward over the control column, the aircraft dived several thousand feet.

Control was regained by the flight engineer at 3,000 feet.

Unable to speak, Flight Sergeant Aaron urged the bomb aimer by signs to take over the controls.

Course was then set southwards in an endeavour to fly the crippled bomber, with one engine out of action, to Sicily or North Africa.

Flight Sergeant Aaron was assisted to the rear of the aircraft and treated with morphia.

After resting for some time he rallied and, mindful of his responsibility as captain of aircraft, insisted on returning to the pilot's cockpit, where he was lifted into his seat and had his feet placed on the rudder bar.

Twice he made determined attempts to take control and hold the aircraft to its course but his weakness was evident and with difficulty he was persuaded to desist.

Though in great pain and suffering from exhaustion, he continued to help by writing directions with his left hand.

Five hours after leaving the target the petrol began to run low, but soon afterwards the flare path at Bone airfield was sighted.

Flight Sergeant Aaron summoned his failing strength to direct the bomb aimer in the hazardous task of landing the damaged aircraft in the darkness with undercarriage retracted.

Four attempts were made under his direction; at the fifth Flight Sergeant Aaron was so near to collapsing that he had to be restrained by the crew and the landing was completed by the bomb aimer.

Nine hours after landing, Flight Sergeant Aaron died from exhaustion.

Had he been content, when grievously wounded, to lie still and conserve his failing strength, he would probably have recovered, but he saw it as his duty to exert himself to the utmost, if necessary with his last breath, to ensure that his aircraft and crew did not fall into enemy hands.

In appalling conditions he showed the greatest qualities of courage, determination and leadership and, though wounded and dying, he set an example of devotion to duty which has seldom been equalled and never surpassed."

The gunfire that hit Aaron's aircraft was thought to have been from an enemy night fighter, but may have been friendly fire from another Stirling.

He was an 'old boy' of Roundhay School, Leeds (headmaster at the time was B. A. Farrow).

There is a plaque in the main hall of the school to his memory incorporating the deed that merited the VC.

On 5 March 2022 (Aaron's 100th birthday) a Yorkshire Society blue plaque was unveiled at Roundhay School in memory of Aaron.