On December 1, 1942 the crew of the Australian HMAS Armidale was attacked by 13 Japanese Zeros while sailing through the Arafura Sea during an escort mission.
The vessel was struck by two air-launched torpedoes and the order was given to abandon ship.
As the crew leapt into the sea, they were strafed by the attacking aircrafts. Ordinary Seaman Edward T. Sheean—after assisting to free a life-raft—was hit by two bullets from one of the aircraft, wounding him in the chest and back.
Despite his serious wounds, he scrambled across the deck, tied his body on the aft Oerlikon 20 mm cannon and began shooting at the fighters in an effort to protect some of the sailors already in the sea.
With the Armidale rapidly sinking, Sheean continued to fire and managed to shoot down one of the Japanese bombers and damaged 2 more.
Sheean maintained his fire as the water rose above his feet, and remained firing as he disappeared beneath the waves.
His crewmates later testified to witnessing tracers rising from beneath the water's surface as Sheean was dragged under.
It wasn't until Aug 12 2020, over 77 years later, that he would receive the Victoria Cross.
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