Captain Edwin Swales VC was a South African pilot seconded to the RAF from the SAAF. He was attached to 582 Sqn Pathfinders and was the lead Pathfinder aircraft on the night of 23rd February 1945 when he was awarded his VC. Swales was flying an Avro Lancaster and was part of a 370 strong forces of Lancasters bombing Pforzheim that night. During the raid Swales aircraft was attacked by an ME110 which knocked out 2 of the Lancasters engines. Although Swales knew his aircraft would not make it back to 'Blighty' he endeavoured to get the aircraft as far back inside friendly territory as possible, so that the crew could bail out safely. As they crossed the French border Swales ordered his crew to abandon the aircraft, no sooner had they all parachuted to safety then the aircraft stalled and crashed into the ground killing Swales. Swales was awarded the Victoria Cross for extreme gallantry and selflessly putting his crews life before his own.

Info: RAF Pilot: Captain Edwin Swales