The account of a mortally wounded pilot, Sgt. Middleton who still brought his crew home following a raid on Turin. His devotion to duty against overwhelming odds.
The outback Aussie
Rawdon Hume Middleton (Ron to his mates) was born in Sydney in 1916. He completed his secondary education at Dubbo in the central west of New South Wales, but an academic career held no appeal for the young man; instead he spent his teen years as a ‘jackaroo’ at an outback sheep station.
Trainee pilot
Anxious to achieve aircrew status in World War II, he joined the RAAF in 1940 and was accepted for the pilot’s course. His draft sailed for Canada in 1941 where they continued training. Following that period Middleton and his fellow airmen sailed to the United Kingdom in 1942. He was posted to No.149 heavy bomber squadron in Suffolk and from there he began operations as second pilot on Short Stirlings. In July he was promoted to captain and over the ensuing months Middleton and his crew worked their way steadily through an operational tour.
Bomber Command
Missions included Hamburg, Munich, the Ruhr and other targets. Following these operations there was a succession of raids on northern Italy. On the night of 28 November they faced another Alps crossing. Their target on this occasion was the Fiat works at Turin and the mission was their twenty ninth; the penultimate before the completion of a tour. Raids on Italian targets were treated with a degree of levity; with those missions being displayed on aircraft as ice cream cones rather than the traditional bombs. Their greatest peril was the Stirling’s inability to achieve its designated altitude when fully loaded. On occasions an aircraft was forced to fly between the unforgiving Italian Alps rather than over them; many an aircraft that failed to return from operations had crashed to destruction in these hostile mountains.
Turin operation
Middleton’s Stirling (H for ‘Harry’) was one of seven selected crews from 149 squadron that made up the 180-strong force dispatched. The outgoing journey developed into a nerve-wracking experience as they picked a hazardous course between the towering peaks. Middleton was about to jettison the bombs and abort the mission, when flares from the Pathfinder Force appeared in the distance over Turin. They had made it on a wing and a prayer but were then faced with a barrage of flak as they descended towards the city centre and their target. Middleton flew a cautious path between the tangle of parachute flares and the flak that was increasing in ferocity. At that moment they sustained a hit on their port wing, causing the aircraft to stagger off course. Middleton regained control and made a wide circuit before he began a second run up to the target; and then with barely half a mile to cover the Stirling received a direct hit to the windscreen.
Both pilots were concussed and Middleton collapsed over the controls; grievously wounded. In spite of his own wounds Hyder, the co-pilot, dragged Middleton clear and took control. Middleton regained consciousness, despite the loss of his right eye and other serious wounds. He then insisted on making a third attack which was completed successfully. They were now faced with a four-hour flight across Occupied Europe in a crippled aircraft with its dying captain.
Despite being almost blind and barely able to speak, Middleton remained at the controls throughout the flight. On arrival at the English coast in the pre-dawn he turned, flew a parallel course and issued orders for the crew to bail out. Five members made successful descents while two remained to assist Middleton. He headed seawards to avoid the possibility of crashing into houses and as he prepared to ditch; at the critical moment the bomber’s engines died. The remaining crew members bailed out but with insufficient altitude they perished in the attempt. With fuel tanks empty the Stirling crashed into the sea; taking its gallant captain with it.
Posthumous VC
In February 1943 Middleton’s body was washed ashore at Dover. A fortnight earlier his devotion to duty was recognized with the award of a posthumous Victoria Cross. The citation concluded thus: While all the crew displayed heroism of a high order, the urge to do so came from Flight Sergeant Middleton whose fortitude and strength of will made possible the completion of the mission. His devotion to duty in the face of overwhelming odds is unsurpassed in the annals of the Royal Air Force
