Cemetery: Bone War Cemetery, Annaba

Country: Algeria

Area:

Rank: Flight Sergeant

Force: Royal Air Force

Official Number: 1458181

Unit: 218 (Gold Coast) Sqdn.

Country of Service: British

Details:

V C, D F M 14/08/43 21 II. B. 3.Son of Mr. and Mrs. B. Aaron, of Gledhow, Leeds, Yorkshire.The London Gazette of 7th November, 1943, gives the following details in the citation. On the night of 12th August, 1943, Flight-Sergeant Aaron was captain and pilot of a bomber detailed to attack Turin. When approaching its target, the aircraft was hit by fire from an enemy fighter, which caused it to become unstable and difficult to control. Flight-Sergeant Aaron was wounded in the face and lung, and his right arm was rendered useless. After a rest, he made determined efforts to take control again - persuaded to desist, he wrote instructions with his left hand, and guided the bomb-aimer in the hazardous task of landing the damaged aircraft at Bone in North Africa. Nine hours after landing, he died of exhaustion. 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.

Believed  father to be of recent Jewish origin '

Photograph by John Mitchell