Last surviving Second World War Victoria Cross recipient dies aged 105

Sunday, 17 August 2025 01:48

The last surviving Second World War recipient of the Victoria Cross had died at the age of 105, the Royal Air Force (RAF) has said.

Flight Lieutenant John Cruickshank, from Aberdeen, was awarded the cross for bravery during an attack on a German U-boat that left him injured.

The RAF said on Facebook that it was "saddened to hear of the death of Britain's last surviving World War Two Victoria Cross recipient Flight Lieutenant (retired) John Cruickshank, who died last week age 105".

The RAF Association said in a separate post: "We thank you for your service."

The Victoria Cross is the joint highest military decoration for valour, awarded to service personnel who have shown extreme bravery in the face of the enemy.

A total of 181 people received a cross for their actions during the Second World War.

Flt Lt Cruickshank was the captain of a Catalina flying boat and oversaw submarine-hunting missions from an RAF boat base in the Shetland Islands.

On 17 July 1944, when he was 24 years old, Flt Lt Cruickshank was sent on a patrol to protect the British Home Fleet as it returned from an attack on a German battleship.

A U-boat was spotted on the surface near Norway and the aircraft he was captaining and piloting launched an offensive.

The first bombs failed to release but Flt Lt Cruickshank repeatedly turned the plane to face enemy fire and returned the attack, sinking the U-boat.

Flt Lt Cruickshank sustained 72 injuries including two to his lungs and 10 to his lower limbs.

The navigator was killed and three other crew members were severely injured, while the badly damaged aircraft was filled with fumes from exploding shells.

The surviving crew members spent five and a half hours flying back to the Shetland Islands.

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Despite losing consciousness multiple times during their return, Flt Lt Cruickshank assisted the second pilot with the landing.

He returned to his career in banking after the war.

Sky News

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