British A34 (Comet) Mk.1 tank from the 11th Armored Division in the German town of Wesel.

Comet

William "Bill" Reid was the pilot of a Lancaster bomber involved in a raid over Germany.  In the run-in to the attack, his aircraft was severely damaged by German night fighters; of his crewmembers was killed, another (the navigator) mortally wounded.  Reid himself was severely wounded, suffering serious head wounds and wounds to his hands.  In spite of this, he insisted on pressing his attack to the target and releasing his bombs.  He then turned for home, and managed to return to base in spite of his difficulty in retaining consciousness due to blood loss (his surviving crew had to jog him repeatedly to keep him awake).  His landing was, apparently, particularly difficult, since it was achieved in spite of blood from his head wounds obscuring his vision.  Bill Reid survived his wounds, and the war, dying of natural causes many years later.  Best regards, JR.

Flight Lieutenant William Reid, VC.

British Comet tanks of the 2nd Fife and Forfar Yeomanry, 11th Armoured Division, crossing the Weser at Petershagen, Germany, 7 April 1945.