Lloyd Allan Trigg
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Flying Officer Lloyd Allan Trigg, VC, DFC, of Houhora, New Zealand, was the only Allied serviceman in either World Wars 1 or 2 to be recommended for a VC by the enemy.
Trigg was an experienced RNZAF pilot attached to the RAF Coastal Command's 200 squadron. He was flying his first operational flight in a B-24 Liberator (having previously flown Hudsons), over the Atlantic from his base in Bathurst, West Africa (now The Gambia), on 11 August 1943 when he engaged a German U-boat, U-468, under the command of Klemens Schamong.
His aircraft received several catastrophic hits from the anti-aircraft guns during his bombing runs and was on fire as Trigg made his final attack. It then crashed, killing Trigg and his crew, so the only witnesses to his high courage were the U-boat crew members..
The U-boat sank but the seven survivors were rescued by a Royal Navy vessel and the captain reported the incident, recommending Trigg be decorated for his bravery. The Victoria Cross was awarded posthumously.
External links
- New Zealand Electronic Text Centre (http://www.nzetc.org/tm/scholarly/tei-WH2-2Epi-c5-WH2-2Epi-a.html) - a more detailed report of the action.
- The London Gazette (http://www.gazettes-online.co.uk/archiveSearch.asp?WebType=0) - London Gazette (Issue no. 36230) = Third Supplement to The London Gazette of Friday 29 October 1943. The Supplement is dated 2 November 1943 and carries the official announcement of the award (posthumous award) of the VC to Lloyd Trigg.
- Lloyd Trigg in a listing of New Zealanders who have won the VC (http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Park/7572/nzvcross.txt)
- Lloyd Trigg in a listing of New Zealanders who have won the VC (http://www.diggerhistory.info/pages-medals/nz-vc-winners.htm) - with a picture of his medals.
- Burial location of Lloyd Trigg (http://www.victoriacross.org.uk/ggatsea.htm) "Aircraft crashed into the sea, no known grave".
- News item (http://www.victoriacross.org.uk/bbtrigg.htm)" Lloyd Trigg's Victoria Cross sold at auction".de:Lloyd Allan Trigg