Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Sergeant

Awarded on:

January 21st, 1941

"In September, 1940, this airman was the turret gunner of an aircraft which crashed in dense mist; he was dazed by a heavy blow on the head and his parachute harness was entangled with the seat. Although the compartment door was jammed, Sergeant Allen succeeded in forcing his way out of the wreckage and, in spite of the fact that the aircraft was on fire, he proceeded with great energy and resolution to extricate the unconscious bodies of three of the crew at the risk of his own life. Undeterred by the increasing intensity of the heat and fumes from the burning wreckage, and amid exploding ammunition, he then endeavoured to find the pilot, but was unsuccessful. Unaware, owing to the dense mist, that the crash had occurred on the aerodrome, Sergeant Allen removed the unconscious man to a safe distance from the flames before assistance arrived. It was due to his efforts that the three members of the crew were not burned with the aircraft, though unfortunately they subsequently died from injuries sustained during the crash."