The other thing to note about the Fairey Battle VC is that Reynolds was not officially aircrew! Gunners were volunteers from the ground branches (often armourers) who volunteered for "extra duties" and received a small amount of flying pay and the brass flying bullet arm badge. Indeed, they were often seen as shirking their primary duties by their superiors and it was not unknown for them to "return to work" following a sortie. It is therefore not surprizing that only the "aircrew" received the VC as decision makers, with the gunner seen as being "part of the aircraft and along for the ride". I believe that official aircrew gunners did not come into service until the end of the year.
As for S/L Sherwood on the Augsburg raid. The reason that Nettleton was awarded the VC was that he was under orders that he could abandon the raid should he loose any aircraft in a Vic of 3 because of loss of gun protection. In the event, the Waddington formation was intercepted by Bf-109s and 4 of the 6 were shot down quite early in the operation. Nettleton decided that he and his wingman (John Garwell) should continue a further 2 hours into enemy territory in daylight despite these losses. Sherwood, leading the 97 Sqn formation, had a trouble free run into the target and was shot down by flak over Augsburg. His aircraft was seen to explode on impact and he was presumed dead. It was believed that he deserved an award but the awarding board were reluctant to award a VC although this was the only possible award he could be awarded (except MiD which was considered inappropriate). Therefore, the paperwork was annotated "recommend the award of VC unless shown to have survived". As luck would have it, Sherwood was catapulted through the glass of his cockpit when his aircraft exploded and his fall was arrested by a small tree - although badly injured he survived to become a POW and was therefore awarded a DSO for his leadership. In effect, Sherwood carried out his orders as instructed while Nettleton continued on in adversity - hence the awards received.
Last edited by Wensleydale; 31st Jan 2014 at 07:25.