John Dering Nettleton, VC was a South African officer in the Royal Air Force (RAF) during the Second World War. He is most famous for leading the Augsburg raid, a daylight attack against the MAN U-boat engine plant in Augsburg on 17 April 1942. For his role in this mission he was awarded the Victoria Cross, the highest award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces.
Nettleton on his final low level practice flight over England in preparation for the Augsburg raid
The Augsburg Raid, also referred to as Operation Margin, was a bombing raid made by the RAF on the MAN U-boat engine plant in Augsburg undertaken during the daylight hours of 17 April 1942. The mission was assigned to No. 44 (Rhodesia) Squadron and No. 97 Squadron, both of which were equipped with the new Avro Lancaster. The speed of the Lancaster and its large bombload capacity gave reason for optimism that the raid might succeed. It was the first of the attacks upon German industry in Augsburg.
Nettleton over England on his final practice run for the Augsburg raid
A Lancaster over Waddington airfield at the end of a practice mission
97 Squadron Lancasters over the English countryside on their way to a mock target in Scotland
Nettleton and crew sit for a portrait after surviving the Augsburg raid. Nettleton is seated, second from left.
