Staff-Sergeant John Alfred Ainsworth
Unit : 1st Battalion The Glider Pilot Regiment
Army No. : 81376
Awards : Military Medal
Sicily 10.7.43.
This Staff Sergeant was forced to land his aircraft far out in the sea when attacking Sicily. Having seen that his crew were provided with life saving jackets and that all had been extricated from the water logged part of the glider, he swam ashore 3 miles distant. [Armed?] with nothing but a fighting knife he killed two sentries and with the rifle of the second continued fighting throughout the battle. The leadership and courage of this S/Sgt Pilot was in the best traditions of the service.