Citation:

Flight Lieutenant Lord was pilot and captain of a Dakota aircraft detailed to drop supplies at Arnhem on the afternoon of the 19th September, 1944.

The airborne troops had been surrounded and were being pressed into a small area defended by a large number of anti-aircraft guns. Air crews were warned that intense opposition would be met over the dropping zone. To ensure accuracy they were ordered to fly at 900 ft. when dropping their containers.

While flying at 1500 ft. near Oosterbeek the starboard wing of Flight Lieutenant Lord's aircraft was twice hit by anti-aircraft fire from the Mariendaal area. The starboard engine was set on fire. He would have been justified in leaving the main stream of supply aircraft and continuing at the same height or even abandoning his aircraft. But on learning that his crew were uninjured and that the dropping zone would be reached in three minutes he said he would complete his mission, as the troops were in dire need of supplies.

By now the starboard engine was burning furiously. Flight Lieutenant Lord came down to 900 ft. where he was singled out for the concentrated fire of all the anti-aircraft guns. On reaching the dropping zone he kept the aircraft on a straight and level course while supplies were dropped. At the end of the run, he was told that two containers remained. Although he must have known that the collapse of the starboard wing could not be long delayed, Flight Lieutenant Lord circled, rejoined the stream of aircraft and made a second run to drop the remaining supplies.

These maneuvers took eight minutes in all, the aircraft being continuously under heavy anti-aircraft fire. His task completed, Flight Lieutenant Lord ordered his crew to abandon the Dakota, making no attempt himself to leave the aircraft, which was down to 500 ft. A few seconds later, the starboard wing collapsed and the aircraft fell in flames. There was only one survivor (lt. Henry Arthur King), who was flung out while assisting other members of the crew to put on their parachutes. The Dakota of David Lord and 6 other of the crew crashed in Wolfheze.

By continuing his mission in a damaged and burning aircraft, descending to drop the supplies accurately, returning to the dropping zone a second time and, finally, remaining at the controls to give his crew a chance of escape, Flight Lieutenant Lord displayed supreme valour and self-sacrifice. He was 30 years old.

The Battle of Britain Memorial Flight based at RAF Conningsby in Lincolnshire aquired a DC3 for logistical use. This has been painted with markings and in the colours of the Dakota flown by 'The Arnhem VC'. The only VC ever arwarded to RAF Transport Command.