Fire damaged flying helmet wiring loom of Sergeant John Hannah, VC

This wiring loom shows signs of fire damage from the blaze which engulfed Handley Page Hampden P1355 after it was hit by anti-aircraft fire when bombing invasion barges in 1940.

Sergeant John Hannah was just 18 years old when he was awarded the Victoria Cross for extreme bravery in September 1940. He was the wireless operator on board a Hampden which was hit by flak and set on fire during an operation to bomb invasion barges in Antwerp. After the extinguishers were empty, John used his bare hands to put out the flames, receiving severe burns. His health never recovered, and he died seven years later.