The Eduard Modeller's Den

The Eduard Modeller's Den is an online paid magazine of Czech company Eduard - M. A. designed for enthusiasts of plastic modeling, history, and related subjects. It offers a diverse range of content, including articles on current events, historical articles, museum travel guides, and interviews with notable personalities.

Longest Living Holder of the Victoria Cross

John Alexander Cruickshank was born on May 20th, 1920, in Aberdeen, Scotland. After graduating from the local grammar school in 1938, John joined the Commercial Bank of Scotland as a complete novice.

Longest Living Holder

of the Victoria Cross

Pavel Türk

John Alexander Cruickshank was

born on May 20th, 1920, in Aberdeen,

Scotland. Aer graduang from the local

grammar school in 1938, John joined

the Commercial Bank of Scotland as

a complete novice.

The approaching war began to make

an impact on his life. A few days before

his 19th birthday, he volunteered for

the Territorial Army. Aer the war had

broken out, he was called up for service

in the Royal Arllery, and by early 1941,

he applied for a transfer to the RAF. He

began basic training in July of that year

and was sent to Canada on September

15th for pilot training. Aer his

compleon of basic training, Cruickshank

was transferred to NAS Pensacola in

Florida for advanced ying boat training.

In July, 1942, he successfully completed

the course, received his pilot wings and

the lowest ocer rank of Pilot Ocer,

RAFVR (Volunteer Reserve).

Aer returning to the UK, P/O

Cruickshank was posted to No.4 (C)

OTU (Coastal Operaonal Training Unit)

based at Invergordon in Scotland. The

base was located on the shores of the

Cromarty Firth, just 20km from RAF

Tain. Here, he connued his training on

the Consolidated Catalina and became

familiar with the operaonal procedures

of RAF Coastal Command. On January

10th, 1943, John Alexander Cruickshank

was promoted to the rank of F/O (Flying

Ocer).

F/O Cruickshank‘s rst operaonal

unit, to which he was assigned on March

25th, 1943, was No. 210 Squadron,

based at RAF Pembroke Dock at the

me, with a detachment at Gibraltar.

The squadron was a unit with a long

history. It was rst acvated as a ghter

squadron armed with Sopwith Triplanes

and Camels in 1917. It was reacvated

as a ying boat unit at Felixstowe on

March 1st, 1931. At the start of World

War II, the unit was equipped with the

modern Short Sunderland Mk.I ying

boat and was based at Pembroke Dock

but it had several detachments located

at Woodhaven, Sullom Voe, Invergordon,

Stranraer and Oban. Before Cruickshank

could complete his rst operaonal

ight, the unit was relocated to RAF

H a m w o r t h y (n e a r B o u r n e m o u t h) o n A p r i l

22nd, 1943. The Gibraltar detachment

was retained. P/O Cruickshank made his

rst operaonal ight, ‘Bay patrol 7 & 8’,

with Captain F/O M. Williams as co-pilot

in a Catalina coded ‘M’ on May 15th,

1943 out of Hamworthy. They took o

on their patrol mission in the evening

at 2123h and aer an unevenul ight

Eduard Modeller‘s Den No. 9 - JANUARY 2026

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HISTORY

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F/Lt John Alexander Cruickshank (126700)

F/Lt J.A. CRUICKSHANK, VC.