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Bazalgette, Ian Willoughby

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Personal Information

Rank S/L
Forename(s) Ian Willoughby
Surname Bazalgette
Gender M
Age 25
Decorations VC, DFC
Date of Death 04-08-1944
Next of Kin Son of Charles Ian and Marion Edith Willoughby Bazalgette, of New Malden, Surrey.
BAZALGETTE IW

Aircraft Information

Aircraft Avro Lancaster III
Serial Number ND811
Markings F2-T

Memorial Information

Burial/Memorial Country France
Burial/Memorial Place Senantes Churchyard
Grave Reference
Epitaph GREATER LOVE HATH NO MAN THAN THIS, THAT A MAN LAY DOWN HIS LIFE FOR HIS FRIENDS (John 15:13)

IBCC Memorial Information

Phase 2
Panel Number 128

Enlistment Information

Service Number 118131
Service Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
Group 8
Squadron 635
Squadron Motto Nos ducimus ceteri secunter (We lead, others follow)
Trade Pilot
Country of Origin Canada

Other Memorials

Location High St (B283), New Maldon, Greater London
Country United Kingdom
Memorial Type Inscribed Metal Plaque
Memorial Text In memory of Sqn Ldr I W Bazalgette VC of 635 Sqn, Killed in action in Lancaster ND811 on 4th August 1944
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Location St. Mary's Church, Wimbledon, Greater London
Country United Kingdom
Memorial Type Inscribed Metal Plaque
Memorial Text In memory of Sqn Ldr I W Bazalgette VC of 635 Sqn, Killed in action in Lancaster ND811 on 4th August 1944
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Location London Rd, Downham Market, Norfolk
Country United Kingdom
Memorial Type Inscribed Metal Plaque
Memorial Text A memorial to Sqn Ldr I W Bazalgette VC DFC of 635 Sqn and Flt Sgt A L Aaron VC DFM of 218 Sqn, both killed in action
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Miscellaneous Information

VC Citation (London Gazette): "On 4th August, 1944, Squadron Leader Bazalgette was ‘Master Bomber’ of a Pathfinder Squadron detailed to mark an important target at Trossy-St. Maximin for the main bomber force. When nearing the target his Lancaster came under heavy anti-aircraft fire. Both starboard engines were put out of action and serious fires broke out in the fuselage, and the starboard main-plane. The bomb aimer was badly wounded. As the deputy master bomber had already been shot down, the success of the attack depended on Squadron Leader Bazalgette, and this he knew. Despite the appalling conditions in his burning aircraft, he pressed on gallantly to the target, marking and bombing it accurately. That the attack was successful was due to his magnificent effort. After the bombs had been dropped the Lancaster dived, practically out of control. By expert airmanship and great exertion Squadron Leader Bazalgette regained control. But the port inner engine then failed and the whole of the starboard mainplane became a mass of flames. Squadron Leader Bazalgette fought bravely to bring his aircraft and crew to safety. The mid-upper gunner was overcome by fumes. Squadron Leader Bazalgette then ordered those of his crew who were able to leave by parachute to do so. He remained at the controls and attempted the almost hopeless task of landing the crippled and blazing aircraft in a last effort to save the wounded bomb aimer and helpless gunner. With superb skill, and taking great care to avoid a small French village nearby, he brought the aircraft down safely. Unfortunately, it then exploded and this gallant officer and his two comrades perished. His heroic sacrifice marked the climax of a long career of operations against the enemy. He always chose the more dangerous and exacting roles. His courage and devotion to duty were beyond praise.”
Known as Baz. Born in Canada but his parents, who were from the UK, moved back there when he was 11 years of age. His great grandfather, Sir Joseph Bazalgette, was a celebrated civil engineer.
The Bomber Command Museum of Canada, Alberta has a Lancaster painted with ND811 markings in honour of S/L Bazalgette

Commonwealth War Graves Commission

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The National Archives

Record of Events (Operational Record Book) AIR 27/2155/12
Summary of Events (Operational Record Book) AIR 27/2155/11

Fellow Servicemen

Please note that this list gives all the losses aboard the quoted aircraft and occasionally these may have occurred on an earlier date when the aircraft was not itself lost. Please check the dates of death carefully.

Hibbert I A (F/L)
Leeder V V R (F/S)

Last Operation Information

Start Date 04-08-1944
End Date 04-08-1944
Takeoff Station Downham Market
Day/Night Raid Day
Operation Trossy St. Maxim- to mark a flying bomb storage depot. Part of a 291 aircraft bomber force to attack both Bois de Cassan and Trossy St. Maxim sites by day and with good visibility. 4 aircraft lost. S/L I W Bazalgette of 635 Sqn was posthumously awarded a VC for his devotion to duty on this raid.
Reason for Loss Hit by flak, knocking out both starboard engines and causing a fire in the fuselage. The pilot pressed on since he was the deputy master bomber and the master bomber had already been shot down. He succeeded in marking the target accurately despite the damage to his aircraft, after which he ordered the crew to abandon where possible and then attempted a crash-landing. Exploded as it touched down, killing the pilot and the two wounded crew members.

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Casualty Pack

IBCC is delighted to introduce a unique facility to link the Losses Database to the relevant RAF Casualty Pack on the National Archives website. This project is the result of on-going collaboration between IBCC, the MOD Records Office and National Archives, Kew. This document describes what Casualty Packs are, when they were created, the process of making them available to the public and then goes on to describe the process by which you can view the contents of the packs. Casualty Packs (CPs) were created by the RAF whenever there was serious injury or loss of life associated with operational activity within the RAF. This includes operational flying losses, enemy action due to air raids, road accidents either on station or even off-station if they involved RAF vehicles. Deaths due to natural causes in service or accidents that did not involve RAF vehicles did not generally give rise to a CP.

CPs were originally given a unique reference number by the RAF. Each begins with the letter ‘P’ and is followed by six digits, then an oblique (forward slash) and the finally the year in which the incident took place- for example P396154/42.

The CPs are in the process of being made available to the general public as they are passed from the MOD Records Office, Portsmouth to National Archives, Kew. This process requires some rework to the files which is very time consuming, so the process of making them all available to National Archives will take several years. They are being made available in increasing date order.

Once CPs arrive at National Archives they are assigned a unique AIR81 number, so each CP has both a P-number and an AIR81 number. Both are searchable on the National Archives website under ‘Search the catalogue’ and both are included on the IBCC website.

The AIR81 reference on the IBCC website is a link to the file on the National Archives website. When you click on it, the relevant page will open in a new tab on your browser.

There is currently no plan to digitise AIR81 files, partly because they are fragile and partly because the information they contain can at times be sensitive, even harrowing, since they may contain exhumation reports and even photographs of corpses. Family members wishing to read the AIR81 files relating to their ancestors are advised to exercise caution and be guided by National Archives warnings where appropriate.

There are two means for accessing AIR81 files- to attend in person or to order a copy by post.

To attend in person, the attendee should first create a Reader’s Ticket. This can be done online by following this link: https://secure.nationalarchives.gov.uk/login/yourdetails. Then click on the AIR81 reference on the IBCC website and click Order in Advance. Enter your Reader’s Ticket number and state the date on which you intend to visit. National Archives will have the file ready for you when you arrive, saving you time. When you visit Kew, you must quote the Reader’s Ticket number and take along two forms of ID- one bearing your signature and one bearing your address. When you view the files, you are permitted to take photographs of each page, should you wish.

Alternatively, if you wish to order a copy by post, please be aware that there is a charge for this service based on the number of pages in the file. Click on the AIR81 reference on the IBCC website and then click Request a Copy. There is an £8.40 charge for National Archives staff to access the file and give you a quotation for the copying service. The process takes around 24 days to complete and can be expensive.

IBCC wishes to thank the staff at the MOD Records Office and National Archives for their engagement and assistance in making this facility available to our website users.