Recipient of the Victoria Cross
Born May 20, 1920, Aberdeen, Scotland

John Cruickshank was born on May 20th,1920 in Aberdeen, Scotland. He enlisted in the Royal Artillery in May 1939, and served there until 1941 when he transferred to the RAF. He did his flight training in Canada and the US, and earned his wings in 1942. He was assigned to 210 Squadron in March 1943, flying Consolidated PBY Catalina flying boats. He was 24 years old, and a flying officer in No. 210 Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve during the Second World War when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the VC.

On 17 July/18 July 1944 Flying Officer Cruickshank, on anti-submarine patrol in the North Atlantic, was attacking a U-boat in a hail of flak shells when one burst inside the aircraft, causing a great deal of damage. One member of the crew was killed and two wounded, and although he too had been hit - it was later found that he had 12 wounds, two serious wounds to his lungs and ten penetrating wounds to his lower limbs - Flying Officer Cruickshank went in again, releasing his depth charges, which straddled the U-boat perfectly, and it sank. On the hazardous 5 1/2-hour return journey the flying officer several times lost consciousness, but insisted on helping to land the Catalina.

Cruickshank recovered sufficiently to return to administrative duties by December 1944 but did not return to flying command. He left the RAF in September 1946 to return to an earlier career in banking, and retired in 1977. John is a living recipient and the last surviving VC for air action in World War II.