SWALES, Edwin
	PERSONALIA   Name:  Swales, Edwin Date of birth:  July 3rd, 1915 (Inanda, Natal, South Africa) Date of death:  February 23rd, 1945 (Leopoldsburg, Belgium) Buried on:  Commonwealth War Cemetery Leopoldsburg Nationality:  South African       VICTORIA CROSS (VC) Rank: Captain Unit: South African Air Force Action: On 23 February 1945 Captain Swales was in command of a formation of bombers during an air raid on Pforzheim, Germany. Enemy fighters attacked the formation of bombers during this attack and the engine, fuel tank and the rear side of Captain Swales bomber were heavily damaged. Despite the damage he managed to reach his target and dropped his bomb load. When he was on his way back to base, he noticed that his bomber couldn’t be saved, and ordered his crew to bail out. When all crewmembers had left the plane, Captain Swales and his Lancaster crashed. Details: Captain Swales Victoria Cross is publicly displayed at the National Museum of Military History, Johannesburg, South Africa. Edwin Swales is buried at the Leopoldsburg War Cemetery, Belgium.         DISTINGUISHED FLYING CROSS (DFC)         Provide alterations or additional information Picture source:   - Jeroen Niels, The Netherlands Information source(s):   - Victoria Cross Reference - The Register of the Victoria Cross - published by This Engeland 1997 - ISBN 0906324270 - Special thanks to Iain Stewart from The History of the Victoria Cross