Pilot Officer Leslie Manser VC

P/O Leslie Manser lifted off on his 14th operational sortie on the night of 30/31st May 1942, bound for Cologne. He was piloting L7301 an AVRO Mnchester MK 1 aircraft of No.50 Squadron stationed at Skellingthorpe. He decided to make his bombing run at 7000 feet rather than the briefed height of 12000 and successfully bombed his target. He was then caught by searchlights, and his aircraft was hit by flak which blew off part of the bomb doors. He was again hit by flak and the port engine caught fire. Luckily this did not set the rest of the aircraft alight and he was able to continue homeward on one engine. However this became overheated and he was soon to realise that the aircraft could not make it back. He gave the order to his crew to bale out as he fought to keep the aircraft flying, and bought them time to do so as a result. The last man out, having stayed behind to assist Manser, was Leslie Baveystock. Manser eventually lost control, and was killed when the aircraft crashed near Bree in Belgium.

He was awarded the Victoria Cross posthumously on October 20th 1942.