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Tribute to Freddie West VC by Ivan Berryman. (GS)
On the 11th of August 1918, the Armstrong Whitworth FK8 C8602 of Ferdinand 'Freddie' West and his observer / gunner John Haslam was one of hundreds of aircraft tasked with locating German reserves on the ground to assist the Army. A gap in the clouds revealed a concentration of German troops - they dived low to assess their number but coming under intense fire returned to the clouds. Not satisfied that the enemy positions had been identified correctly, West dived again. Attacked by several aircraft and wounded, West pressed on with his low flight to gather further intelligence. Finding 'troops, guns and vehicles in all directions', they knew they had found the German reserves. Turning for home they encountered more German scouts. This time, the attack left their aircraft badly damaged and West was hit in the leg by five bullets, one of which severed an artery. With Haslam taking aim at the fighters while West tried to take evasive action, they managed to escape. Half fainting through blood loss, West fashioned a tourniquet from a leg of his shorts, and drifting into semi-consciousness, landed the aircraft behind Allied lines. He insisted that he should personally pass on the intelligence to his No.8 Sqn superiors, and lost consciousness after doing so. Sir John Salmond, in charge of the Air Force in France, put him forward for the Victoria Cross which was awarded for 'unparalleled pluck and endurance. The valour displayed by this officer has throughout been a magnificent example to his flight, which he has inspired with his devotion, courage and power of endurance.' Despite losing his leg, with an artificial limb he returned to flying duties after the war and remained in the Royal Air Force until the end of World War Two. He died in 1988. |
