Wing Commander Basil Gibson Carroll (37003),
Royal Air Force.
Flight Lieutenant Wilfred Turner (48336), Royal
Air Force.
In July, 1944, two Typhoon aircraft and a petrol
dump were set on fire during an enemy air attack
against an airfield. Fire tenders were brought into
action and, under the supervision of Wing Commander
Carroll, the fire in one aircraft was extinguished
quickly. A second aircraft loaded with
cannon shells arid also carrying rocket projectiles,
was burning furiously. Ammunition, petrol tanks
.and rockets were exploding in all directions. Two
rockets, which were pointing towards other aircraft
and a dispersal area, remained in the starboard
wing. Realising that it was impossible to extinguish
the fire, Wing Commander Carroll and Flight
Lieutenant Turner donned asbestos gloves and
endeavoured to remove the rockets. This necessitated
crawling under the wing and, had the
starboard oleo leg collapsed, both officers would
probably have been crushed to death. Undaunted
by the intense heat and grave danger, these
officers succeeded in removing the rockets. Wing
Commander Carroll also assisted to roll away two
5oo-lb. bombs which were near the fire.'" Through-"
out the whole operation Wing Commander Carroll
and Flight Lieutenant Turner displayed courage
and determination of • a very high standard and
set an excellent example. By their action they
nullified a very great potential danger to personnel
and aircraft in the vicinity.