Volume 25 www.legionnl.com 19 Newfoundland Labrador Command of 200 mph but Jackson managed to get to the tank and put the fire out. Then, the German fighter attacked again and it caught the wing on fire again and caught Jackson on fire. His mates, seeing as how he couldn’t survive unless they released him, let the chute go. Jackson fell to the earth with his chute on fire and what the rest of the crew thought was certain death. Freddie Mifflin, knowing that his plane was mortally wounded, ordered the rest of his crew out while he tried to keep the plane level. They all bailed out except the rear gunner who was mortally wounded. Mifflin stayed with his plane and sacrificed his own life to save his crew. When the crew landed and were put in prisoner of war camps they discovered that Jackson had survived his burning parachute fall but had broken his ankles and had burns on his hands. They also discovered that their beloved pilot and friend “Miff” and the rear gunner had died in the crash. Jackson was awarded the Victoria Cross for his actions that night and Fred Mifflin was posthumously awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for his sacrifice. “Miff” was 21 years old. They are buried together in Durnbach War Cemetery.
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