Distinguished Flying Medal of Leading Aircraftman James Arthur Skingsley

Leading Aircraftman James Skingsley was acting as a stand-in crew member aboard the Vickers Wellington piloted by Squadron Leader James Booth on 18 January 1943. Attacked by a night fighter, Skinglsey ignored an order to evacuate and helped Booth save the crew and the aircraft.

Skingsley was born in 1917 and joined the RAF in January 1940. He was trained as an engine fitter and then went to No. 142 Squadron flying Wellingtons at Eastchurch from which they were raiding invasion barges. The squadron returned to Binbrook in December. In mid December 1942 the unit was sent to North Africa to form No. 330 Wing with No. 150 Squadron. On 18 January 1943, with Squadron Leader Booth lacking a second pilot, Skingsley was asked to assist with the mechanical operations of the Wellington as a stand-in Flight Engineer for a night raid on Bizerta docks. The aircraft was attacked by a Junkers Ju 88 night fighter and badly damaged. Despite an order for the crew to prepare to evacuate, Skingsley instead removed a burning oxygen cylinder from its mounting and, with the help of the bomb aimer, Sergeant Jack Edwards, flung it from an escape hatch. The two men then continued to jettison equipment in order to lighten the aircraft. Booth was able to pilot the Wellington back to base and make a successful crash landing. Skingsley received the DFM for his bravery, one of the few to be awarded to ground crew personnel and possibly the only one relating to operations in North Africa. Edwards also received the DFM and Booth the DFC.