Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Flying Officer

Unit:

No. 431 (Iroquois) Squadron, Royal Canadian Air Force

Awarded on:

October 13th, 1944

"Flying Officer Holden was detailed one night in July, 1944, to attack Hamburg and Sergeant Clay was his rear gunner. Whilst over the target the aircraft was swept by cannon and machine gun fire from an enemy fighter. Sergeant Clay was severely wounded and the aircraft became uncontrollable. It dived steeply and Flying Officer Holden ordered the crew to escape by parachute. The navigator, bomb aimer and mid-upper gunner jumped. After losing 10,000 feet the pilot regained control and rescinded his order to abandon aircraft. Sergeant Clay crawled to the nose of the aircraft where he remained during the return flight helping Flying Officer Holden to navigate his aircraft through a most heavily defended area of Germany. Only when the aircraft was being landed in England did Sergeant Clay indicate that he was injured by requesting Flying Officer Holden to have an ambulance to meet the bomber on the airfield. Flying Officer Holden'and Sergeant Clay displayed unswerving devotion to duty and set an example of the highest standard."

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)