The Terrible Story Of "RAF DOUGLAS DAKOTA "
RAF Pilot Officer David Samuel Anthony Lord, VC, DFC somewhere in the Chinese/Burma/India Theatre supporting the Chindits -
1943colorized by Jecinci
In July 1943 Lord was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross, receiving the award at Buckingham Palace.
On September 19, 1944, during the Battle of Arnhem, David Lord was piloting RAF Douglas Dakota Mk. III, KG374, c/n 12383, “YS-DM” of 271 Squadron, from RAF Down Ampney making supply drops to the British & Polish Paratroopers near Arnhem.
The Dakota was hit twice by A fire with one engine burning, as fire spread over the starboard wing, Lord spent ten minutes making two passes over very small drop zones dropping eight ammunition containers.
Just after the last container was dropped, the fuel tank exploded and tore off the wing, with only navigator F/O Harry King surviving to become a POW.
It was only in 1945, after the release of King & several paratroopers from the 10th Parachute Battalion, that the story of Lord's action became known. David Lord was awarded a posthumous Victoria Cross on November 13, 1945
Citation:
"Flight Lieutenant Lord was pilot and captain of a Dakota aircraft detailed to drop supplies at Arnhem on the afternoon of the I9th September, 1944.
Our airborne troops had been surrounded and were being pressed into a small area defended by a large number of anti-aircraft guns. Air crews were warned that intense opposition would be met over the dropping zone. To ensure accuracy they were ordered to fly at 900 feet when dropping their containers.
While flying at 1,500 feet near Arnhem the starboard wing of Flight Lieutenant Lord’s aircraft was twice hit by anti-aircraft fire. The starboard engine was set on fire.
He would have been justified in leaving the main stream of supply aircraft and continuing at the same height or even abandoning his aircraft. But on learning that his crew were uninjured and that the dropping zone would be reached in three minutes he said he would complete his mission, as the troops were in dire need of supplies.
By now the starboard engine was burning furiously. Flight Lieutenant Lord came down to 900 feet, where he was singled out for the concentrated fire of all the anti- aircraft guns. On reaching the dropping zone he kept the aircraft on a straight and level course while supplies were dropped.
At the end of the run, he was told that two containers remained.
Although he must have known that the collapse of the starboard wing could not be long delayed, Flight Lieutenant Lord circled, rejoined the stream of aircraft and made a second run to drop the remaining supplies.
These manoeuvres took eight minutes in all, the aircraft being continuously under heavy anti-aircraft fire.
His task completed, Flight Lieutenant Lord ordered his crew to abandon the Dakota, making no attempt himself to leave the aircraft, which was down to 500 feet. A few seconds later, the starboard wing collapsed and the aircraft fell in flames.
There was only one survivor, who was flung out while assisting other members of the crew to put on their parachutes.
By continuing his mission in a damaged and burning aircraft, descending to drop the supplies accurately, returning to the dropping zone a second time and, finally, remaining at the controls to give his crew a chance of escape, Flight Lieutenant Lord displayed supreme valour and self-sacrifice." -
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Lord is buried alongside his crew in the Arnhem Oosterbeek War Cemetery
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