Originally Posted by
Wensleydale
The Victoria Cross is awarded for Gallantry above and beyond. Garland and Gray were in a position to 'avoid' the heavy flak but chose not to...the gunner was indeed considered "part of the Aircraft" and had no say in the prosecution of the attack - he died carrying out his expected duty. Yes he was brave - heroic even, but they all were: it was the decision process that went above and beyond and not just being there.
Perhaps helping to keep the subject in context, it should be remembered that much the same principle applied to the award of Victoria Crosses to the crews of X-Class and XE-Class submarines in World War II, which had a four man crew. The only case I can recall in which anyone other than the commanding officer was awarded the VC was XE-3, when both Lieutenant Ian Fraser and his diver, Leading Seaman Jim Magennis were both awarded the VC for the attack on the Japanese cruiser TAKAO off Singapore.
Jack