KNOTTINGLEY MAN SAVES AIRMAN'S LIFE

LEADING AIRCRAFTMAN PONSONBY

Leading Aircraftman Ponsonby, whose home is at Knottingley, has been awarded the British Empire Medal (Military Division).

One night in October 1944, three aircraft crashed when attempting to land on an improvised flare path formed by trucks placed along the runway.  The aircraft which first came in to land crashed into a truck, injuring the driver and killing an officer standing nearby and immediately burst into flames.  The fire was being got under control and attempts were being made to rescue the pilot, when a second aircraft collided with the first aircraft and also burst into flames.

Meanwhile Leading Aircraftman Ponsonby, an ambulance driver, had been attending to the driver of the truck on which the first aircraft had crashed.  The latter had been trapped in his vehicle with fractures of both legs.  Despite the fact that the other two aircraft were heading for the scene he towed the truck away in time to avoid a collision.

Leading Aircraftman Ponsonby saved the life of the driver of the truck and displayed courage in dangerous circumstances. He was a motor-driver before enlisting in 1941.

Copied From The Pontefract and Castleford Express March 28th 1945

[Wartime Contents] [Local Heroes Index]