Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Staff Sergeant

Unit:

Army Air Corps (Ilford)

Awarded on:

October 19th, 1944

Citation:
"At 22.50 hours on 5th June 1944 (D Minus One), Staff Sergeant Banks took off with five other gliders from Blakehill Farm aerodrome loaded with engineer stores and personnel for the purpose of blowing certain bridges near Touffreville, East of Caen. Parachutists were to have cleared a landing zone near to Touffreville (ten miles inland) and to have laid out landing lights.

On crossing the French coast, the glider combination flew into cloud, only one set of lights were visible, belonging to another landing strip. All pilots except Lieutenant Pickwood (piloting another glider) and Staff Sergeant Banks, mistook this for the landing zone. The proper landing zone had not been prepared, there were no lights and no direct moonlight. Nevertheless, Staff Sergeant Banks identified it, pulled off and made a successful landing in spite of the poles set up to prevent landings. He successfully unloaded his glider while British paratroops were engaging the enemy about 200 yards away.

Thanks to the calmness, efficiency and courage of Lieutenant Pickwood and Staff Sergeant Banks in making landings in extremely difficult circumstances, the bridges were blown and the operation was a complete success."