Last surviving Second World War Victoria Cross recipient dies aged 105
A total of 181 people received Britain's highest military decoration for their actions during the war.
The RAF captain's family told the BBC he died last week and that a funeral would be held in private, the news outlet reported on Saturday.
Flt Lt Cruickshank was the captain of a Catalina flying boat with 210 Squadron, flying submarine-hunting missions from RAF Sullom Voe, in the Shetland Islands, Scotland.
On July 17 1944, aged 24, he was sent on a patrol to protect the British Home Fleet as it returned from an attack on the German battleship Tirpitz.
A U-boat was spotted on the surface near Norway and the aircraft he was captaining and piloting launched an offensive.
The first bombs failed to release but Flt Lt Cruickshank turned the plane to face enemy fire and attack again.
He dropped depth charges during the second attempt, sinking the U-boat.
Flt Lt Cruickshank sustained 72 injuries including two to his lungs and 10 to his lower limbs during the assault.
The navigator was killed, three other crew members were severely injured, and the badly damaged aircraft was filled with fumes from exploding shells.
After the victory, Flt Lt Cruickshank left the cockpit but refused painkillers and continued to advise his second pilot who had taken control.
The surviving crew members spent five and a half hours flying back to Sullom Voe.
Despite losing consciousness multiple times during their return, he assisted the second pilot with the landing which took an hour.
In 2013, Flt Lt Cruickshank said: 'It was just normal, we were trained to do the job and that was it.
'I wouldn't like to say I'm the only one that has an amazing story, there are plenty of other stories coming from that time.
'It wasn't that wonderful in those days, I can tell you that. We could only think in those days there were better days to come.'
After the war ended Flt Lt Cruickshank returned to his career in banking.
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Glasgow Times
17 hours ago
- Glasgow Times
Last surviving Second World War Victoria Cross recipient dies aged 105
Flight Lieutenant John Cruickshank, from Aberdeen, received the VC for bravery during an attack on an enemy submarine that left him seriously injured. A total of 181 people received Britain's highest military decoration for their actions during the war. The RAF captain's family told the BBC he died last week and that a funeral would be held in private, the news outlet reported on Saturday. John Cruickshank in uniform (MOD/PA) Flt Lt Cruickshank was the captain of a Catalina flying boat with 210 Squadron, flying submarine-hunting missions from RAF Sullom Voe, in the Shetland Islands, Scotland. On July 17 1944, aged 24, he was sent on a patrol to protect the British Home Fleet as it returned from an attack on the German battleship Tirpitz. A U-boat was spotted on the surface near Norway and the aircraft he was captaining and piloting launched an offensive. The first bombs failed to release but Flt Lt Cruickshank turned the plane to face enemy fire and attack again. He dropped depth charges during the second attempt, sinking the U-boat. Flt Lt Cruickshank sustained 72 injuries including two to his lungs and 10 to his lower limbs during the assault. The navigator was killed, three other crew members were severely injured, and the badly damaged aircraft was filled with fumes from exploding shells. John Cruickshank beside a Eurofighter at RAF Fairford's International Air Tattoo (David Jones/PA) After the victory, Flt Lt Cruickshank left the cockpit but refused painkillers and continued to advise his second pilot who had taken control. The surviving crew members spent five and a half hours flying back to Sullom Voe. Despite losing consciousness multiple times during their return, he assisted the second pilot with the landing which took an hour. In 2013, Flt Lt Cruickshank said: 'It was just normal, we were trained to do the job and that was it. 'I wouldn't like to say I'm the only one that has an amazing story, there are plenty of other stories coming from that time. 'It wasn't that wonderful in those days, I can tell you that. We could only think in those days there were better days to come.' After the war ended Flt Lt Cruickshank returned to his career in banking.
South Wales Guardian
17 hours ago
- South Wales Guardian
Last surviving Second World War Victoria Cross recipient dies aged 105
Flight Lieutenant John Cruickshank, from Aberdeen, received the VC for bravery during an attack on an enemy submarine that left him seriously injured. A total of 181 people received Britain's highest military decoration for their actions during the war. The RAF captain's family told the BBC he died last week and that a funeral would be held in private, the news outlet reported on Saturday. Flt Lt Cruickshank was the captain of a Catalina flying boat with 210 Squadron, flying submarine-hunting missions from RAF Sullom Voe, in the Shetland Islands, Scotland. On July 17 1944, aged 24, he was sent on a patrol to protect the British Home Fleet as it returned from an attack on the German battleship Tirpitz. A U-boat was spotted on the surface near Norway and the aircraft he was captaining and piloting launched an offensive. The first bombs failed to release but Flt Lt Cruickshank turned the plane to face enemy fire and attack again. He dropped depth charges during the second attempt, sinking the U-boat. Flt Lt Cruickshank sustained 72 injuries including two to his lungs and 10 to his lower limbs during the assault. The navigator was killed, three other crew members were severely injured, and the badly damaged aircraft was filled with fumes from exploding shells. After the victory, Flt Lt Cruickshank left the cockpit but refused painkillers and continued to advise his second pilot who had taken control. The surviving crew members spent five and a half hours flying back to Sullom Voe. Despite losing consciousness multiple times during their return, he assisted the second pilot with the landing which took an hour. In 2013, Flt Lt Cruickshank said: 'It was just normal, we were trained to do the job and that was it. 'I wouldn't like to say I'm the only one that has an amazing story, there are plenty of other stories coming from that time. 'It wasn't that wonderful in those days, I can tell you that. We could only think in those days there were better days to come.' After the war ended Flt Lt Cruickshank returned to his career in banking.
Sky News
18 hours ago
- Sky News
Last surviving Second World War Victoria Cross recipient dies aged 105
The last surviving Second World War recipient of the Victoria Cross had died at the age of 105, the Royal Air Force (RAF) has said. Flight Lieutenant John Cruickshank, from Aberdeen, was awarded the cross for bravery during an attack on a German U-boat that left him injured. The RAF said on Facebook that it was "saddened to hear of the death of Britain's last surviving World War Two Victoria Cross recipient Flight Lieutenant (retired) John Cruickshank, who died last week age 105". The RAF Association said in a separate post: "We thank you for your service." The Victoria Cross is the joint highest military decoration for valour, awarded to service personnel who have shown extreme bravery in the face of the enemy. A total of 181 people received a cross for their actions during the Second World War. Flt Lt Cruickshank was the captain of a Catalina flying boat and oversaw submarine-hunting missions from an RAF boat base in the Shetland Islands. On 17 July 1944, when he was 24 years old, Flt Lt Cruickshank was sent on a patrol to protect the British Home Fleet as it returned from an attack on a German battleship. A U-boat was spotted on the surface near Norway and the aircraft he was captaining and piloting launched an offensive. The first bombs failed to release but Flt Lt Cruickshank repeatedly turned the plane to face enemy fire and returned the attack, sinking the U-boat. Flt Lt Cruickshank sustained 72 injuries including two to his lungs and 10 to his lower limbs. The navigator was killed and three other crew members were severely injured, while the badly damaged aircraft was filled with fumes from exploding shells. The surviving crew members spent five and a half hours flying back to the Shetland Islands. Despite losing consciousness multiple times during their return, Flt Lt Cruickshank assisted the second pilot with the landing. He returned to his career in banking after the war.
