Who is John Cruickshank? Last surviving WW2 Victoria Cross recipient dies aged 105

John Cruickshank, the last living recipient of the Victoria Cross from World War Two, has died at the age of 105. His family confirmed he passed away last week. A private funeral will be held.

Cruickshank was born in 1920 in Aberdeen, Scotland. He joined the Royal Air Force and became a flight lieutenant during the war. On 17 June 1944, while piloting a Catalina flying boat in the Norwegian Sea, he carried out a daring attack on a German U-boat.

The mission was dangerous. His first bombing attempt failed due to a technical problem. Despite heavy enemy gunfire, he turned the aircraft around and attacked again. This time, the bombs hit their target and destroyed the submarine.

The victory came at a great cost. Navigator John Dickson was killed, and several crew members were badly injured. Cruickshank himself suffered 72 wounds, including lung injuries and severe leg wounds.

Despite his critical injuries, he refused medical treatment until he safely landed the aircraft at Sullom Voe, Shetland. His bravery earned him the Victoria Cross, the highest military award for valour in the British and Commonwealth Armed Forces. King George VI presented the medal to him on 29 August 1944.

Cruickshank never returned to operational flying. He left the RAF in 1946 and went on to work in banking. Known for his humility, he rarely spoke about his wartime heroics. In 2008, he said, “It was regarded as duty.”

In later years, he was honoured on several occasions. In 2013, he flew in an aircraft similar to his wartime Catalina. For his 104th birthday in 2024, a Catalina flew over his home in Aberdeen in tribute.

John Cruickshank’s life remains an enduring symbol of courage, determination, and service to his country.