Sergeant Norman Jackson Victoria Cruz
On April 26 and 27, 1944, during World War II, 215 Lancasters and 11 Mosquitos attacked and stormed Schweinfurt.
Strong headwinds, enemy fighter jets attacking them, and incorrect target marking all added to the drama that was about to unfold. This drama, even today, makes readers gasp as they are horrified by the events.
Sergeant Norman Jackson won his Victoria Cross for his exploits on this night for an act of heroism that could rank as one of the most amazing and unusual events of the war.
It was also on this night that the Lancaster’s captain and rear gunner were killed. The rest of the crew was captured and became prisoners of war until the end of the war.
The heroic actions of Sergeant Norman Jack sons only came to light when the crew reunited after the war. Norman had never mentioned it to anyone!
Sergeant Norman Jackson was with 106 Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve.
Born in Ealing, W London, 8 April 1919
He died in 1994 and is buried in Percy Road Cemetery, Twickenham, Middlesex.
King George VI presented him with his Victoria Cross at Buckingham Palace on November 13, 1945.
Your quote reads from
London Gazette, October 26, 1945
Raid on Schweinfurt, Germany, 26 April 1944, Sergeant Norman Jackson, 106 Squadron, RAFVR.
In recognition of the most conspicuous bravery. This aviator was the flight engineer of a Lancaster bomber destined to attack Schweinfurt on the night of April 26, 1944. The bombs were dropped successfully and the plane was leaving the target area. Suddenly it was attacked by a fighter at about 20,000 feet. The captain immediately took evasion action, but the enemy secured many hits. A fire started near a gasoline tank on the upper surface of the starboard wing, between the fuselage and the inboard engine. Sergeant Jackson was thrown to the ground during the confrontation. The wounds he received from projectile splinters to his right leg and shoulder were probably sustained at that time. Recovering, he commented that he could take care of the fire in the wing and got the captain’s permission for him to try to put out the flames.
Sergeant Jackson tucked a hand-held fire extinguisher into the top of his life jacket and donned his parachute pack, and tossed the escape hatch overboard over the pilot’s head. He then began to exit the cockpit and backed up the top of the fuselage to the starboard wing. Before he could leave the fuselage, his parachute pack opened and all the canopy and rigging ropes spilled into the cockpit. Undeterred, Sergeant Jackson continued. The pilot, the bomb admirer, and the navigator bundled the parachute together and held on to the rigging lines, releasing them as the aviator crawled aft. He finally slipped and, falling from the fuselage to the starboard wing, grabbed an air intake on the leading edge of the wing. He managed to hang on but lost the fire extinguisher, which went flying.
By this time, the fire had spread rapidly and Sergeant Jackson was involved. His face, hands, and clothing were severely burned. Unable to retain a hold on him, he was dragged through the flames and over the trailing edge of the wing, dragging the chute behind him. When he was last seen, he was only partially inflated and was burning in several places.
Realizing that the fire could not be controlled, the commander gave the order to abandon the aircraft. Four of the remaining crew members landed safely. The captain and rear gunner have not been accounted for. Sergeant Jackson was unable to control his descent and landed heavily. He suffered a broken ankle, his right eye was burned shut, and his hands were useless. These injuries, along with the injuries received earlier, reduced him to a sorry state. At dawn he crept to the nearest town, where he was taken prisoner. He endured the intense pain and discomfort of the journey to Dulag Luft with magnificent strength. After 10 months in the hospital, he made a good recovery, although his hands required more treatment and saw only limited use.
This airman’s attempt to extinguish the fire and prevent the aircraft and crew from falling into enemy hands was an act of outstanding bravery. Venturing outside, traveling at 200 miles per hour, at high altitudes, and in bitter cold, was an almost unbelievable feat. If he had managed to put out the flames, there was little to no chance of recapturing the cabin. The spillage of his parachute and the risk of severe damage to his canopy minimized his chances of survival. By his willingness to face these dangers, he set an example of selflessness that will always be remembered.
Sergeant Norman Jackson’s medals were
victoria cross
1939-45 star
Air Crew Europe Star
star of italy
Defense Medal (1939-45)
War Medal (1939-45)
Queen Elizabeth II Coronation Medal (1953)
Queen Elizabeth II Silver Jubilee Medal (1977)
They were sold by Spink for £200,000 in April 2004. It was then a record price for a venture capital group.
