George Cross of Pilot Officer Gerald Charles Close

Pilot Officer Gerald Charles Close was awarded the Empire Gallantry Medal on 21 December 1937. This was exchanged for the George Cross in 1940.

On 13 April 1937 a Westland Wapiti Mk IIA (K1301) of No. 27 Squadron crashed shortly after taking off from Miranshah airfield. The squadron which was engaged in operations in Waziristan on the North West Frontier of India and the aircraft was loaded with four 112lb bombs and 800 rounds of .303 ammunition. Crashing about 700 yards beyond the perimeter of airfield the aircraft burst into flames. One of the bombs exploded. Pilot Officer Close of No. 5 Squadron, who was Duty Pilot at the time, ran to the scene and despite the explosion of another bomb and the ammunition made persistent attempts to save the crew until ordered by a superior officer to withdraw.