Thomas Mottershead Thomas Mottershead VC , DCM ( 17 January 1892 – 12 January 1917 ) was an English recipient of the Victoria Cross , the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces . Background . Thomas Mottershead was born on 17 January 1892 , one of a family of 10 . Mottershead married Lilian Bree on 10 February 1914 , and was working as a garage mechanic when World War I began . Prior to enlisting in the Royal Flying Corps on 10 August 1914 as a mechanic , Mottershead had studied engineering and had been apprenticed as a fitter working in Widnes . He was posted to the Central Flying school at Upavon and was promoted to Sergeant on 1 April 1916 . In May 1916 he began pilot training and in June of that year he obtained his Flying Certificate . He was posted to No . 25 Squadron at St Omer , flying the FE 2 , on 6 July 1916 and saw action in the Battle of the Somme . Distinguished Conduct Medal . One of his first operations was low - level bombing raid on a German anti - aircraft battery which he successfully destroyed . On 22 September , with 2 / Lt C . Street as observer he bombed the railway station at Samain , destroying one ammunition train and strafing another . While climbing away from the target , their aircraft was attacked by a Fokker scout . Accounts of the engagement indicate that it was Mottershead ' s skillful manoeuvring which enabled Street to shoot the enemy aircraft down . For this action and other displays of gallantry , Sgt Mottershead was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal and promoted to the rank of Flight Sgt . He was then transferred to No . 20 Squadron at Clairmarais . Victoria Cross . On 7 January 1917 near Ploegsteert Wood , Belgium , Sergeant Mottershead was on patrol in FE - 2d ( serial number A39 ) with observer Lt . W E Gower when he was engaged in combat by two Albatros D . III of Jasta 8 . Lt Gower managed to hit one and put it out of the action , the second Albatros however , flown by German ' ace ' " Leutnant " Walter Göttsch ( 20 victories ) , hit Mottershead ' s aircraft , with the petrol tank pierced and the machine was set on fire . Enveloped in flames which his observer was unable to subdue with a handheld fire extinguisher , the Sergeant was badly burned but nevertheless managed to take his aircraft back to the Allied lines and made a successful forced landing . The undercarriage collapsed on touching the ground however , throwing the observer clear but pinning Thomas in his cockpit . He was subsequently rescued but died of his burns five days later . Mottershead was awarded the only V . C . ever awarded to a non - commissioned RFC officer during the First World War . Citation . " For most conspicuous bravery , endurance and skill , when attacked at an altitude of 9 , 000 feet ; the petrol tank was pierced and the machine set on fire . Enveloped in flames , which his Observer , Lt . Gower was unable to subdue , this very gallant soldier succeeded in bringing his aeroplane back to our lines , and though he made a successful landing , the machine collapsed on touching the ground , pinning him beneath wreckage from which he was subsequently rescued . Though suffering extreme torture from burns , Sgt . Mottershead showed the most conspicuous presence of mind in the careful selection of a landing place , and his wonderful endurance and fortitude undoubtedly saved the life of his Observer . He has since succumbed to his injuries . "