Rawdon Hume Middleton VC

402745 Pilot Officer Rawdon Hume Middleton RAAF

Attached to 149 Squadron RAF

Night of 28th-29th November 1942, in raid on Turin, Italy

Rawdon Hume Middleton, the great nephew of the Australian explorer, Hamilton Hume, was born at Waverly, NSW, on 22nd July 1916. He was an ex-student of Dubbo High School. Rawdon was a very good cricketer and tennis player. He represented Dubbo High School in tennis in the Astley Cup, the annual multi sports competition between Dubbo High School (now Dubbo College), Orange High School and Bathurst High School. Rawdon was also in Dubbo High School's First XI. During his military service he just wanted to be known as Ron.   

VC Citation Summary

Flight Sergeant Middleton was captain and first pilot of a Stirling aircraft detailed to attack the Fiat works at Turin in November 1942. Great difficulty was experienced on the way to the target and while over the target the aircraft was hit by anti-aircraft fire.

Flight Sergeant Middleton was badly wounded and his right eye was destroyed. The second pilot was also badly wounded. The possibilities of abandoning the aircraft or landing in northern France were discussed but Flight Sergeant Middleton stated his intention to reach the English coast.

After crossing the Channel there was only sufficient fuel for five minutes flying. Flight Sergeant Middleton flew the aircraft parallel with the coast and ordered his crew to abandon the aircraft. Five of the crew left the aircraft and two remained to assist him. The aircraft crashed into the sea and all remaining onboard were killed.

Flight Sergeant Middleton was determined to attack the target regardless of the consequences and not to allow his crew to fall into enemy hands. Whilst all the crew displayed heroism of a high order, the urge to do so came from Flight Sergeant Middleton, whose fortitude and strength of will made possible the completion of the mission. His devotion to duty in the face of overwhelming odds is unsurpassed in the annals of the Royal Air Force.

Source : London Gazette : 15th January 1943

Rawdon Middleton's body was washed ashore at Dover on 1st February 1943. He is buried in the Churchyard of St John's, Beck Row, Suffolk, England. His commission as Pilot Officer was backdated posthumously to 15th November 1942. 

For more information about Rawdon (Ron) Middleton VC, his life and military service, I recommend that people read the excellent book , Middleton VC, written by Stuart Bill.

Sources: * Australian War Memorial's records; * Book, Middleton VC , written by Stuart Bill. Published by S & L Bill. East Bentleigh. Victoria. Australia. 1991. ISBN 0646003372. ; and Rawdon Hume Middleton VC's Citation, London Gazette : 15th January 1943.