Okay, this is what I've found…..
The man in question is a Flight Sergeant J.A. Ward, RNZAF
Early on July 8, 1941, Squadron Leader Widdowson of No 75 (NZ) Squadron was returning from a raid on Munster when over the Ijsselmeer f Bf 110 fighter attacked. The rear gunner of Wellington L7818, hit in the foot, fired back and put the fighter out of control. Fire the broke out for the Wellington's starboard engine had been hit. It was fed fuel from a broken pipe and which threatened to engulf the entire wing. Sergeant J.A. Ward, the co-pilot, left his seat and fade aft. The crew made a hole amidships in the fuselage and tried to douse the fire, even emptying the coffee in their Thermos flask. They were warned to prepare to abandon the aircraft, at which point Sergeant Ward offered to try to smother the flames with an engine cover left by chance in the Wellington.
He was reluctant to wear his parachute for fear its bulk tore him from the aircraft, but accepted it and then was tied by a cord to he geodetic frame. He had decided to slide out on to the wing to put out the blaze. Ward squeezes through the astro hatch, then attached his parachute before making foot holes in the fabric for the perilous journey. By supreme effort he succeeded I smothering part of the wing fire. He was unsuccessful in putting out the blaze in the pipe line, but since most of the fabric was burnt away from it the future was brighter for them all. Satisfied that he had done his best, he made his was back into the aircraft.
For the crew anxiety would remain, brought to a climax later when petrol in the wing again briefly burned. Widdowson landed at Feltwell, and for his selfless courage Sergeant Ward received the highest British military award, the Victoria Cross.
Sgt. Ward was killed in action on a raid to Hamburg on 15/16 September 1941.