Flight Lieutenant David Samuel Anthony LORD V.C. D.F.C.

Royal Air Force 271 Squadron Transport Command, Arnhem 1944.

Transcription of Citation

Flight Lieutenant Lord was a pilot and captain of a Dakota aircraft detailed to drop supplied at Arnhem on the afternoon of 19th 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 oppositions would be met over the dropping zone. To ensure accuracy they were ordered to fly at 900ft when dropping the containers.

While flying at 1500ft near Arnhem was starboard wing of Flt. Lieutenant Lord’s aircraft was twice hit by anti-aircraft fire. The starboard wing of Flt. 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 900ft. 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, re-joined 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 500ft. 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.