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    AFC Members awarded the Victoria Cross

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    The citation for Frank MacNamara's VC, taken from the London Gazette dated 8 June 1917 (1) :


    MacNAMARA, Lieutenant Frank Hubert; Australian Forces, No 67 Sqn Royal Flying Corps (2) ;

    For most conspicuous bravery and devotion to duty during an aerial bomb attack upon a hostile construction train, when one of our pilots was forced to land behind the enemy's lines. Lieut. MacNamara, observing the pilot's predicament and the fact that hostile cavalry were approaching, descended to his rescue. He did this under heavy rifle fire, and in spite of the fact that he himself had been severely wounded in the thigh. He landed about 200 yards from the damaged machine, the pilot of which climbed into Lieut. MacNamara's machine, and an attempt was made to rise. Owing, however, to his disabled leg, Lieut. MacNamara was unable to keep his machine straight, and it turned over. The two officers, having extricated themselves, immediately set fire to the machine and made their way across to the damaged machine, which they succeeded in starting. Finally, Lieut. MacNamara, although weak from the loss of blood, flew the machine back to the aerodrome, a distance of 70 miles, and thus completed his comrade's rescue.

    McNamara's Victoria Cross currently resides and is on display at the Royal Air Force Museum at Hendon in London, England.



    1. Citation appears courtesy of Graeme Neale.
    2. The British Administration recorded 1 Sqn Australian Flying Corps as 67 Sqn RFC until late 1917.