For Valour: Flying Officer Lloyd Allan Trigg

Location: 11 August 1943, over North Atlantic, west of  The Gambia

Who: Flying Officer Lloyd Allan Trigg (N.Z.4I35I5) VC DFC Royal New Zealand Air Force, 5 June 1914 – 11 August 1943

During the Second World War, the primary air-launched anti-submarine weapon was the depth charge. Exploding under water, if near enough to the submarine, the shock wave would cause major internal damage and start leaks, even if it did not rupture the submarine’s pressure hull. But to be effective, the attacking aircraft should ideally fly diagonally across the submarine’s track, and at low level for accuracy, to achieve a “straddle” – depth charges dropped each side of the vessel. In the early years, a U-Boat would submerge as soon as an aircraft was sighted. But the Kriegsmarine [German navy] realised how vulnerable the attacking aircraft were so started mounting extensive anti-aircraft guns on the submarine, more powerful and longer-ranged than the modest aircraft armament. And so, instead of diving when attacked, they would stay on the surface and fight back.

Flying Officer Trigg was a member of No. 200 Squadron, Coastal Command, RAF, based at RAF Yundum, The Gambia, from where they carried out shipping protection and anti-submarine patrols over the vast Atlantic. On 11 August 1943, Trigg was captain and pilot of Consolidated Liberator serial BZ 832 coded ‘D’, taking off at 0729 hours. This was the very first combat mission by 200 Squadron using a Liberator. At 0945 hrs, Trigg’s crew spotted German submarine U-468 and attacked.

Consolidated Liberator GR VI

The London Gazette 2nd November, 1943.

“The KING has been graciously pleased to confer the VICTORIA CROSS on the under-mentioned officer in recognition of most conspicuous bravery: — Flying Officer Lloyd Allan TRIGG, D.F.C. (N.Z.4I35I5), Royal New Zealand Air Force (missing, believed killed), No. 200 Squadron. Flying Officer Trigg had rendered outstanding service on convoy escort and anti-submarine duties. He had completed 46 operational sorties and had invariably displayed skill and courage of a very high order. One day in August, 1943, Flying Officer Trigg undertook, as captain and pilot, a patrol in a Liberator although he had not previously made any operational sorties in that type of aircraft. After searching for 8 hours a surfaced U-boat was sighted. Flying Officer Trigg immediately prepared to attack. During the approach, the aircraft received many hits from the submarine’s anti-aircraft guns and burst into flames, which quickly enveloped the tail. The moment was critical. Flying Officer Trigg could have broken off the engagement and made a forced landing in the sea. But if he continued the attack, the aircraft would present a “no deflection ” target to deadly accurate anti-aircraft fire, and every second spent in the air would increase the extent and intensity of the flames and diminish his chances of survival. There could have been no hesitation or doubt in his mind. He maintained his course in spite of the already precarious condition of his aircraft and executed a masterly attack. Skimming over the U-boat at less than 50 feet with anti-aircraft fire entering his opened bomb doors, Flying Officer Trigg dropped his bombs on and around the U-boat where they exploded with devastating effect. A short distance further on the Liberator dived into the sea with her gallant captain and crew. The U-boat sank within 20 minutes and some of her crew were picked up later in a rubber dinghy that had broken loose from the Liberator. The Battle of the Atlantic has yielded many fine stories of air attacks on under-water craft, but Flying Officer Trigg’s exploit stands out as an epic of grim determination and high courage. His was the path of duty that leads to glory.”

The Liberator crashed, with all crew lost to the sea. They are remembered on the Commonwealth War Graves Commission’s Malta Memorial.

The only surviving witnesses to Trigg’s heroism were members of the U-Boat crew, rescued by H.M.S. Clarkia, and upon whose testimony the award of  the Victoria Cross was based.

Pilot Officer Trigg’s Victoria Cross is displayed in Lord Ashcroft’s Gallery in the Imperial War Museum, London.

Credits:

Citation: London Gazette 11 October 1946

Additional biographical details: For Valour: The Air VCs Chaz Bowyer, Grub Street Publishing.

Photos

Flying Officer Trigg: RAF Museum (PC76/23/42)

Liberator: RAF Museum

Memorial: Commonwealth War Graves Commission

Memorial panel: The War Graves Photographic Project (www.twgpp.org)