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Revision as of 05:44, 4 March 2009 by Ohconfucius (talk | contribs) (reworked, copyed)(diff) ← Previous revision | Latest revision (diff) | Newer revision → (diff)| Alan Jerrard | |
|---|---|
 Jerrard's grave | |
| Buried | Exeter & Devon Crematorium Headstone at Hillingdon Churchyard |
| Allegiance |  United Kingdom |
| Service | Royal Flying Corps, Royal Air Force |
| Rank | Flight Lieutenant |
| Unit | 5th South Staffordshire Regiment; No. 19 Squadron RFC; No. 66 Squadron RFC |
| Battles / wars | World War 1 |
| Awards | Victoria Cross |
Flight Lieutenant Alan Jerrard VC (3 December 1897 – 14 May 1968) was an English recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest award for gallantry in the face of the enemy awarded to British and Commonwealth forces.
He was 34 years old, and a lieutenant in No. 66 Squadron of the Royal Air Force during the First World War when he performed an act of bravery for which he was awarded the Victoria Cross.
Background
Jerrard was born in Lewisham and moved in 1902 with his family to Sutton Coldfield where his father was for 24 years headmaster of Bishop Vesey's Grammar School.
Involvement in World War 1
Jerrard volunteered for the British Army and served with the 5th South Staffordshire Regiment before transferring to the Royal Flying Corps in 1915 where he trained as a fighter pilot.
From mid-1917, he served in No. 19 Squadron RFC in France, but he was injured in an air crash on 5 August 1917, flying a SPAD VII. From 22 February 1918, he served in No. 66 Squadron RFC in Italy, as a lieutenant, flying Sopwith Camels. Between 27 February and 21 March he scored four aerial victories, including one balloon.
Military decoration
He was awarded the VC for the following deed:
On 30 March 1918, near Mansue, Italy, Lieutenant Jerrard, with two other officers, Peter Carpenter and Harold Eycott-Martin, on offensive patrol, shot down one of five enemy aircraft. Then flying at 50 ft. he attacked an aerodrome with some 19 machines either landing or attempting to take off. After destroying one of these he was attacked by more enemy aircraft but, seeing a brother-officer in difficulties, went to assist him, destroying a third enemy machine, then continued his attacks, only retreating, with five machines in pursuit, on the orders of the patrol leader. Even then, he repeatedly turned to beat off the enemy until finally forced down.
After the war, it was however revealed, that the British opponents were only four Austrian Albatros D.III (Oef) fighters, one of which was damaged and had to land, while the pilot of the other one was injured by a ball. Jerrard was shot down by the ace Benno Fiala von Fernbrugg from Flik 51/J, and became a prisoner of war. Jerrard himself did not claim to destroy any planes in that skirmish, only he claimed to shoot up one. He was the only Camel pilot to be awarded VC
He later achieved the rank of Flight Lieutenant.
His Victoria Cross is displayed at the Royal Air Force Museum (Hendon, England).
References
- Shores, C., Franks, N., Guest, R. Above the Trenches. Grub Street, 1990. p.212 ISBN 0-94881-719-4
- Norman Frank: Sopwith Camel aces of World War I, Osprey Aircraft of the Aces 52, Oxford 2003, ISBN 1-84176-534-1, p. 87
- Monuments to Courage (David Harvey, 1999)
- The Register of the Victoria Cross (This England, 1997)
- VCs of the First World War - Air VCs (P G Cooksley, 1999)
- The Aerodrome