Thread by @mike_bechthold

#OTD in 1918, Lieutenants Alan McLeod and Arthur Hammond, while flying over Albert, France, shot down a German Fokker Triplane before being bounced by eight more enemy aircraft. They shot down three more before crashing. A THREAD 1/10
#VictoriaCross

McLeod and Hammond served in No. 2 Squadron, RAF flying the Armstrong Whitworth F.K 8, a two-seater. It was an effective and dependable aircraft that was used for reconnaissance, artillery spotting, ground attack, contact patrols, and bombing. 2/10

McLeod & Hammond were wounded by MG fire which also set their petrol tank on fire. McLeod side-slipped his craft to keep the flames away but it was still too hot in the cockpit, so he lept onto the wing and crouched low with the joystick pulled hard over in his right hand. 3/10

He continued to fly the aircraft from the wing by smashing a hole through the fabric in the fuselage so that he could reach the rudder-wire with his left hand, and so headed for home. All the while they were chased by German scouts. 4/10

This kept the flames away from Hammond and prevented the aircraft from burning up. When they crashed in no-man's-land McLeod ignored his injuries and dragged Hammond from the burning wreckage while under heavy fire before collapsing from exhaustion and blood loss. 5/10

Hammond was severely wounded and lost a leg but survived. His 3 victories that day made him an ace and he was awarded a Bar to his Military Cross. He later emigrated to Canada when invited by McLeod’s family. He joined the RCAF in the #SWW and died in Vancouver in 1959. 6/10

McLeod was in far worse condition - wounded 6 times. His father, a doctor, went to England to care for his son. On 4 Sept, McLeod, with a cane, went to Buckingham Palace. He was recommended for the Distinguished Service Order, but it was upgraded to a #VictoriaCross. 7/10

Soon after he returned to his home in Stonewall, Manitoba to recuperate. He was stricken by the Spanish Influenza shortly thereafter and was unable to fight it in his weakened condition. He died on 6 Nov 1918, five days before the end of the war; he was just 19 years old. 8/10

Photo credits (1)
McLeod and Hammond: DND photo
FK8: LAC PA 006297
McLeod 2nd from left: LAC C-027811
Pencil sketch by J Simpson: CWM 20110072
McLeod Memorial Painting by George Tanner: constable.ca
Madman McLeod painting: True Adventure Magazine Flickr
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Photo credits (2)
Hammond and Hammond medals: public domain
McLeod at Buckingham Palace: DND photo
McLeod VC: CWM 19670076-001
McLeod in bed: LAC MIKAN 3219066
Alan Adams, nephew at McLeod's grave, Old Kildonan Cemetery in Winnipeg, MB: DND Photo
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