For Valour: Sergeant John Hannah
When: 15 September 1940 , over Belgium
Sergeant John Hannah VC (652918) Royal Air Force: 27 November 1921 – 9 June 1947
The Battle of Britain normally conjures up images of Spitfires and Hurricanes creating vapour trails across an azure sky but by night, Bomber Command was active – and taking more casualties than Fighter Command. After disastrously costly daylight raids in 1939, Bomber Command had by now switched to night raids but was still setting precision targets, accuracy for which required flying at near-suicidally low altitudes.
In the summer of 1940, these targets were German preparations for the proposed Unternehem Seelöwe [Operation Sealion], the invasion of Britain. Principally, these were invasion barges in the French and Belgian ports, as well as communications and logistics.
Sergeant Hannah was a Wireless Operator/Air Gunner attached to 83 Squadron, Bomber Command, based at RAF Scampton. Bomber Command War Diary records that, ‘on the night of 15/16 September 1940, 83 Squadron was tasked with sending 15 Handley Page Hampdens to attack the port of Antwerp’ to destroy German invasion barges. Hannah was part of the crew of Handley Page Hampden P 1355, named ‘Betty’ (captain Pilot Officer C A Connor RCAF). Take-off was at 22:30 hrs.
Sergeant Hannah, then aged 18, was the youngest ever RAF winner of the VC.
Left: ‘Hannah’s Victoria Cross Obverse Right: Hannah’s Victoria Cross Reverse 82/D/793
THE LONDON GAZETTE, 1 October 1940
‘The KING has been graciously pleased to confer the Victoria Cross on the undermentioned airman, in recognition of most conspicuous bravery: — 652918 Sergeant John HANNAH. On the night of I5th September, 1940, Sergeant Hannah was the wireless operator/air gunner in an aircraft engaged in a successful attack on enemy barge concentrations at Antwerp. It was then subjected to intense anti-aircraft fire and received a direct hit from a projectile of an explosive and incendiary nature, which apparently burst inside the bomb compartment. A fire started which quickly enveloped the wireless operator’s and rear gunner’s cockpits, and as both the port and starboard petrol tanks had been pierced, there was grave risk of the fire spreading.
John Hannah was wearing this Irvin flying jacket on the operation of 15 September 1940. 82/U/786
Sergeant Hannah forced his way through the fire to obtain two extinguishers and discovered that the rear gunner had had to leave the aircraft. He could have acted likewise, through the bottom escape hatch or forward through the navigator’s hatch, but remained and fought the fire for ten minutes with the extinguishers, beating the flames with his log book when these were empty.
Engraved commemorative cigarette case presented to Sergeant Hannah by Handley Page 82/C/792
During this time thousands of rounds of ammunition exploded in all directions and he was almost blinded by the intense heat and fumes, but had the presence of mind to obtain relief by turning on his oxygen supply. Air admitted through the large holes caused by the projectile made the bomb compartment an inferno and all the aluminium sheet metal on the floor of this airman’s cockpit was melted away, leaving only the cross bearers.
Working under these conditions, which caused burns to his face and eyes, Sergeant Hannah succeeded in extinguishing the fire. He then crawled forward, ascertained that the navigator had left the aircraft, and passed the latter’s log and maps to the pilot. This airman displayed courage, coolness and devotion to duty of the highest order and, by his action in remaining and successfully extinguishing the fire under conditions of the greatest danger and difficulty, enabled the pilot to bring the aircraft safely to its base.’
Letter from FS John Hannah VC to his brother describing the events which
led him to being awarded the Victoria Cross, 23 September 1940 X008-4414
Hannah never returned to operational flying. After periods in an Operational Conversion Unit as an instructor, his health deteriorated and in December 1942 he was discharged with the rank of Flight Sergeant and a full disability pension.
Handley Page Hampden, RAF Museum
He lies in St James Churchyard, Birstall, Leicestershire
John Hannah’s grave marker. The War Graves Photographic Project (www.twgpp.org)
NOTE: Commonwealth War Graves Commission’s normal policy is that only military personnel who die in service qualify for a CWGC headstone: Sergeant John Hannah’s is therefore noteworthy.
His Victoria Cross is held by Royal Air Force Museum.
Credits:
Citation: London Gazette 1 October 1940
Additional biographical details: For Valour: The Air VCs Chaz Bowyer, Grub Street Publishing.
