James Allen Ward

Sergeant · 401793 · New Zealand

Died

15 September 1941, aged 22

Fate

Killed in action

Biography

Burial / commemoration

Cemetery

Hamburg Cemetery, Germany

Timeline

• 5 August 1941 Gazetted: VC
  Victoria Cross
• 15 September 1941 Died
  aged 22

Awards

• Victoria Cross (VC) — gazetted 5 August 1941

  401793 Sergeant James Allen WARD, Royal New Zealand Air Force, No. 75 (N.Z.) Squadron. On the night of 7th July, 1941, Sergeant Ward was second pilot of a Wellington re- turning from an attack on Munster. When flying over the Zuider Zee at 13,000 feet, the aircraft was attacked from beneath by a Messerschmitt no which secured hits with cannon shell and incendiary bullets. The rear gunner was wounded in the foot but delivered a burst of fire which sent the enemy fighter down, apparently out of control. Fire then broke out near the starboard engine and, fed by petrol from a split pipe, quickly gained an alarming hold and threatened to spread to the entire wing. The crew forced a hole in the fu

Source: CWGC casualty record: WARD, JAMES ALLEN → · Commonwealth War Graves Commission