Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Flight Sergeant

Unit:

No. 83 Squadron, Royal Air Force

Awarded on:

February 16th, 1943

Citation:
"One night in December, 1942, this airman was the wireless operator of an aircraft detailed to attack Munich. On the outward flight the aircraft was intercepted by an enemy fighter and subjected to a number of attacks. In the.first, which was made directly from beneath the bomber, the bomb aimer was seriously wounded while Flight Sergerant Wallace received a bullet wound in the leg. Some flares inside the aircraft were set alight while the matting on the floor below the mid-upper gunner's turret and everything inflammable in close proximity became ignited and commenced to burn furiously. Despite his injury, and with complete disregard for danger, Flight Sergeant Wallace immediately attempted to quell the flames. The heat and stifling fumes compelled him to desist several times but undaunted he jettisoned all moveable burning material through the rear turret and finally subdued the fire. On the homeward flight, Flight Sergeant Wallace displayed great skill in obtaining fixes, sending signals and doing, everything in his power to assist his pilot in flying the damaged aircraft back to this country. This airman's gallant conduct in the face of an extremely perilous situation was in keeping with the highest traditions of the Royal Air. Force. He has completed numerous sorties and has always displayed exceptional devotion to duty."

According to his son the citation has an inaccuracy about where he put the burning materials from the Lancaster. Leslie Wallace said that he threw it through a hole in the side of the airplane made by the fighter. "The rear gunner was busy fighting off the fighter".