Air Vice Marshall Reggie Bullen. R.I.P.

[Wing boy]

Unfortunately his passing seems to have slipped under the Radar..

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?view=DETAILS&grid=&xml=/news/2008/02/04/db0401.xml


On the night of April 19 Bullen's Wellington bomber was returning to base when it suffered an engine failure, crashed on the airfield and burst into flames. The aircraft was totally destroyed and four members of the crew were killed. Bullen was thrown clear and sustained fractures to his back, an arm and a leg.

The heat was intense and ammunition was exploding. There was the additional risk of the eight depth-charges blowing up at any moment. Despite this, and his severe injuries, Bullen managed to make his way into the blazing aircraft to reach the injured wireless operator and drag him to a safe distance.

 

[penfold93]

Dont make them like that anymore

RIP ...............Sir

 

[wolfy]

Rest In Peace.

 

[Bitburger]

RIP, an Officer and a Gentleman, gone to that great crew reunion in the sky.

 

[Douglas Bader's Right Leg]

RIP Sir, another loss from a great, but dwindling generation.

His citation for the GM:

Gazetted on the 14 September 1945

Flight Lieutenant Reginald BULLEN (125303), Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve.
On the night of the 19th April, 1944, this officer was navigator of a Wellington aircraft which crashed on landing and burst into flames. The aircraft was totally destroyed and four members of the crew were killed. Flight Lieutenant Bullen was thrown through the side of the aircraft as it burst open and sustained fractures of the left leg and right arm, and a slight fracture of the spine. The heat was intense and ammunition was exploding. There was also the additional danger that eight depth charges might explode at any moment. Despite this and his severe injuries Flight Lieutenant Bullen made his way inside the blazing aircraft to the wireless operator and dragged him to a safe distance, clear of the flames. When the ambulance arrived on the scene Flight Lieutenant Bullen was in great pain and was quickly removed to sick quarters. His very brave and gallant action, performed when suffering such intense pain from his own injuries, undoubtedly saved the life of the wireless operator.

As an aside does the Torygraph not use post nominals anymore? By my reckoning he should at least be credited as AVM Reggie Bullen CB GM.

 

[pie sandwich]

Crickey, He has had one hell of a life. Good on him, he has done well.

RIP and God bless. Sir.

 

[skevans]

Bullen was thrown clear and sustained fractures to his back, an arm and a leg[/I]

Bet he wasn't winging his way out of duties like the sickies we have today.

Bless you Sir, Rest in peace.

 

[Ex-Bay]

RIP Sir, another loss from a great, but dwindling generation.

His citation for the GM:

As an aside does the Torygraph not use post nominals anymore? By my reckoning he should at least be credited as AVM Reggie Bullen CB GM.

A brave and resouceful man: RIP.

This raises and interesting puzzle. An Officer awarded the GM ? I was under the impression that Medals were for other ranks and Crosses for officers. At least that was the case until John Major changed the system a bit.

Can someone explain it to me please? (sorry if this is the wrong place for the question. Please move at need).


.

 

[Bitburger]

[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]The George Medal was instituted, together with the George Cross, on 24 September 1940. At that time there was a particular need to reward a great many people in all walks of life. However, it was the intention of the authorities that the George Cross should stand supreme and that its position as the 'civilian Victoria Cross' should not be undermined by the award of larger numbers. The result was that the George Medal, or GM, was introduced as a 'junior' to the George Cross.[/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]The George Medal is the 2nd highest, to the George Cross, gallantry medal that a civilian can win. As with the George Cross, Military personnel are eligible for the George Medal if their act does not qualify for a military gallantry award.[/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]The original warrant for the George Medal did not permit it to be awarded posthumously. This was changed in November 1977, and the George Medal has been awarded posthumously several times since this date.[/FONT]

 

[mild mannered janitor]

rip.

a true hero, leader and should be an inspiration to us all.