Pilot Officer Cyril Joe Barton VC

Pilot Officer Cyril Joe Barton V.C./R.A.F.V.R. 578 Squadron//On the night of 30th March 1944, Pilot Officer Barton was captain and pilot of a Halifax aircraft of/578 Squadron detailed to attack Nuremberg. When some 70 miles short of the target, the aircraft/was attacked by a Junkers 88.// The first burst of fire from the enemy aircraft made the intercommunication system useless. One/engine was damaged when a Messerschmitt 210 joined the fight. The bombers machine guns/were unable to return the fire.// Fighters continued to attack the aircraft as it approached the target area and, in the confusion/caused by the failure of the intercommunication system at the height of battle, a signal was/misinterpreted and the navigator, air bomber and wireless operator left the aircraft by parachute.// Pilot Officer Barton faced a situation of dire peril. His aircraft was damaged, his navigational team/had gone, and he could not communicate with the remainder of the crew.// If he continued his mission, he would be at the mercy of hostile fighters when silhouetted against/the fires in the target area and if he survived, he would have to make a 4 1/2 hours journey home on/three engines across heavily defended territory. Determined to press home his attack at all costs,/he flew on and, reaching the target, released the bombs himself.// As Pilot Officer Barton turned for home the propellor of the damaged engine, which was vibrating/badly, flew off. It was discovered that two of the petrol tanks had suffered damage and were/leaking. Pilot Officer Barton held to his course and, without navigational aids and in spite of strong/head winds, succesfully avoided the most dangerous/defence areas on his route.// Eventually, he crossed the English coast only 90 miles north of his base. By this time the petrol/supply was nearly exhausted. Before a suitable landing place could be found, the port engines/stopped. The aircraft was now too low to be abandoned successfully.// Pilot Officer Barton therefore ordered the three remaining members of his crew to take up their/crash stations. Then, with only one engine working, he made a gallant attempt to land clear of the/houses over which he was flying. The aircraft finally crashed and Pilot Officer Barton lost his life,/but his three comrades survived.// Pilot Officer Barton had previously taken part in 4 attacks on Berlin and 14 other operational/missions. On one of these, two members of his crew were wounded during a determined effort to/locate the target despite appalling weather conditions.// In gallantly completing his last mission in the face of almost impossible odds, the officer displayed/unsurpassed courage and devotion to duty.// 31st March 1944- Ryhope Colliery, Sunderland, England