….His Stricken Bomber At 13,000 Feet.
"The details behind every Victoria Cross are fascinating, but James Allen Ward may have the most unique tale of all.
The 22-year-old New Zealand-born pilot actually climbed out onto the wing of his plane while it was at 13,000 feet to put out a fire that was threatening to down the Wellington (AA-R) of which he was co-pilot.
Despite the heroic nature of the youngster's actions, he nearly failed to win the VC because he took those risks with some interest of self-preservation. But in the end, the stunning, brave, and daredevil nature of the events that took place on 7 July 1941 were simply too noteworthy to ignore.
Ward was born in Wanganui, a city on the west coast of New Zealand's North Island. He initially trained as a teacher in 1938 at the Wellington College of Education. Ward enlisted two years later into the Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF) where he underwent training…"
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