Birth Name: | Albert Matthew Osborne |
Birth Date: | 1906 10, df=yes |
Birth Place: | Grimsby, England |
Death Place: | Malta |
Placeofburial: | Capuccini Naval Cemetery, Malta |
Nickname: | Matt |
Allegiance: | United Kingdom |
Serviceyears: | 1940 - 1942 |
Rank: | Leading Aircraftman |
Servicenumber: | 1058637 |
Battles: | World War II |
Awards: | George Cross |
Leading Aircraftman Albert Matthew Osborne GC (19 October 1906 – 2 April 1942), known as Matt Osborne,[1] of the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve was awarded a posthumous George Cross for his "unsurpassed courage and devotion to duty" during German air attacks on Malta.
Among his many acts of valour he made safe torpedoes in burning aircraft, rescued a pilot from a burning plane and worked to rescue trapped airmen amid heavy enemy bombing. He was killed on 2 April 1942 by an explosion while fire fighting in a similarly courageous manner.
He enlisted in the RAF in July 1940.[2]
His citation was published in the London Gazette on 10 July 1942:[3]
Osborne is buried at the Capuccini Naval Cemetery in Kalkara, Malta.[4]