Surviving Aircraft Flown by VC Holders

[Dan Jones]

Is anyone aware of any surviving Second World War aircraft that were flown by a Victoria Cross recipient? Not necessarily the aircraft that the award was actually won in (I doubt there's any of those) but rather an aircraft that survives today that was flown at some time by a VC holder, either before or after the investiture.

[Baldeagle]

Not WW2, but the fuselage of William Barker's Sopwith Snipe is on display in Canada:
https://www.warmuseum.ca/collections/artifact/1040113/



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[Dan Jones]

That's the only one I can think of, too. There's a slim chance that David Lord flew the Dakota that "Plane Savers" is presently resurrecting in Canada as it was with RAF 271 Sqn at the same time as Lord was lost at Arnhem.

[paulmcmillan]

Wing Commander Hugh Gordon Malcolm, VC (2 May 1917 – 4 December 1942) flew the Arco Flying Westland Lysander V9312

[quemerford]

Thomas Gray, VC later served as an instructor with No.2 Radio School at Yatesbury so may well have flown in a number of that unit's aircraft which still survive (esp. Dominie and Proctor).

[David Legg]

Catalina/Canso - two VCs awarded, one posthumously (David Hornell, RCAF). The other recipient, John Cruickshank, is still alive and the last surviving RAF VC holder. A few years back we flew him out of RAF Leuchars in our Catalina - a great occasion.

[Andy Marden]

John Cruickshank, is still alive and the last surviving RAF VC holder.

Indeed he is. It was his 99th birthday on Monday.