Ian Willoughby Bazalgette

Ian Willoughby Bazalgette was born in Calgary, Alberta on October 19, 1918. His family moved to Toronto, Ontario, in 1923, where he attended school until they moved to England four years later. He was educated at The Downs, Wimbledon, and at the outbreak of World War II was living at New Maiden, Surrey. He joined the Army in 1940, and earned a commission in the Royal Artillery. The following year he transferred to the Royal Air Force where he completed training as a bomber pilot and was posted to No. 115 Squadron.

Promoted to Flight Lieutenant, by mid-1943 Bazalgette had completed a tour of thirty operations in Avro Lancasters and had been awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC), with the following citation: "This officer has at all times displayed the greatest keenness for operational flying. He has taken part in many sorties and attacked such heavily defended targets as Duisberg, Berline, Essen and Turin. His gallantry and his record commands the respect of all in his squadron."

He was then promoted to Squadron Leader and assigned to instructional duties at an Operational Training Unit until April of 1944, when he was sent to 635 Squadron. It was with this unit that he made his final mark by performing the most outstanding deeds under the most terrible of conditions. The following citation, printed in the Sixth Supplement to the London Gazette of Tuesday, 14th August 1945, accompanied his posthumous award of the Victoria Cross (V.C.): The Kind has been graciously pleased to confer the Victoria Cross on the undermentioned officer in recognition of most conspicuous bravery:

ACTING SQUADRON LEADER IAN WILLOUGHBY BAZALGETTE, D.F.C.,
ROYAL AIRFORCE VOLUNTEER RESERVE, No. 635 SQUADRON
(DECEASED)

"On August 4, 1944, S/L Bazalgette was 'master bomber' of a Pathfinder Squadron detailed to mark an important target at Trossy St. Maximin (near Paris) for the main bomber force. When nearing the target his Lancaster bomber came under heavy anti-aircraft fire. Both starboard engines were out of action and serious fires broke out in the fuselage and the starboard mainplane. The bomb aimer was badly wounded. As the deputy 'master bomber' had already been shot down, the success of the attach depended upon S/L Bazalgette, and this he knew. Despite the appalling conditions in his burning aircraft he pressed on gallantly to the target, marking and bombing it accurately. That the attack was successful was due to his magnificent effort. After the bombs had been dropped the Lancaster dived, practically out of control. By expert airmanship and great exertion S/L Bazalgette regained control. But the port inner engine then failed and the whole of the starboard main plane became a mass of flames. S/L Bazalgette fought bravely to bring his aircraft and crew to safety. The mis upper gunner was overcome by fumes. S/L Bazalgette then ordered those of his crew who were able to leave by parachute to do so. He remained at the controls and attempted the almost hopeless task of landing the crippled and blazing aircraft in a last effort to save the wounded bomb aimer and helpless air gunner. With superb skill and taking great care to avoid a small French village nearby, he brought the aircraft down safely. Unfortunately it then exploded and this gallant officer and his two comrades perished. His heroic sacrifice marked the climax of a long career of operations against the enemy. He always chose the more dangerous and exacting roles. His courage and devotion to duty were beyond praise."

Details of his last flight were as follows: "Lancaster ND 811 of No. 635 Squadron, piloted by Squadron Leader Bazalgette, took off at 11.15 hours on 4 August 1944 from Royal Air Force Downham Market, Norfolk, for a raid over Trossy-St Maximin. Nothing more was heard of aircraft or crew until a telegram from the International Red Cross was received stating that the aircraft had crashed at 13.45 hours on the same day at Senantes, 20 km NW of Beauvais. S/L Bazalgette was buried in the Senantes Communal Cemetery, Department of Oise."

S/L Bazalgette was 26 years old. The four surviving crew members evaded capture and returned to England where the story of Bazalgette's last flight was recorded. In 1949 a mountain in Willmore Wilderness Park, near Jasper National Park, Alberta, was named in his honour.

Ian Willoughby Bazalgette was inducted as a Member of Canada's Aviation Hall of Fame in 1974 at a ceremony held in Edmonton, Alberta.

A Canadian-built Lancaster, FM159 has been restored by the Nanton Lancaster Society, Nanton, Alberta and at a ceremony held on August 27, 1990, it was dedicated to the memory of S/L Ian Bazalgette, V.C. The ceremony was attended by his navigator on the V.C. winning flight, Chuck Godfrey, D.F.C., and his flight engineer, George Turner. Lancaster FM159 is brought out of the Bomber Command Museum several times a year and all four of it's engines ran for the first time in 2014. This is the second Lancaster that has been dedicated to the memory of the Canadian V.C. winner. The Canadian Warplane Heritage Lancaster (one of two still flying) is dedicated to the memory of P.O. Andrew Mynarski, VC and regularly flies out of the Mount Hope Airport south of Hamilton, Ontario.