Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Leading Aircraftman

Awarded on:

January 21st, 1941

"In August, 1940, this airman, while on leave in London, showed conspicuous bravery by entering an aircraft which had crashed and caught fire in a street of houses after the pilot had descended by parachute. One gun was firing to the danger of the people in the vicinity, and ammunition in the aircraft was exploding. Despite the danger of the petrol tank exploding at any moment and the fact that he sustained burns to his hands and arms in the process, which necessitated subsequent medical attention. Leading Aircraftman Prior succeeded in gaining access to the gun and removing the back plate in an endeavour to arrest the continued functioning of the gun."