Date of action: 11 Aug 1943 (over the Atlantic); Date of award: 2 Nov 1943 (posthumous award)
Flying Officer Lloyd Trigg is the only serviceman to have been awarded the VC on the ‘recommendation’ of an enemy. Trigg served in the RNZAF and after being seconded to the RAF he was posted to Coastal Command, flying anti-submarine patrols from West Africa. During an operational sortie on 11 August 1943, Trigg sighted U-468 on the surface. Despite being hit repeatedly by anti-aircraft fire, Trigg pressed home his attack and fatally damaged the German submarine with depth charges. His crippled Liberator then crashed into the sea with the loss of all eight crew. German survivors praised Trigg’s courage after they were picked up by an Allied ship. Their evidence was instrumental in the New Zealander being awarded a posthumous VC. Read more
Lloyd Trigg, 1943
Date of action: 11 Aug 1943 (over the Atlantic); Date of award: 2 Nov 1943 (posthumous award)
Flying Officer Lloyd Trigg is the only serviceman to have been awarded the VC on the ‘recommendation’ of an enemy. Trigg served in the RNZAF and after being seconded to the RAF he was posted to Coastal Command, flying anti-submarine patrols from West Africa. During an operational sortie on 11 August 1943, Trigg sighted U-468 on the surface. Despite being hit repeatedly by anti-aircraft fire, Trigg pressed home his attack and fatally damaged the German submarine with depth charges. His crippled Liberator then crashed into the sea with the loss of all eight crew. German survivors praised Trigg’s courage after they were picked up by an Allied ship. Their evidence was instrumental in the New Zealander being awarded a posthumous VC. Read more