A SECOND World War Lancaster Bomber wireless operator has been given an award in recognition of his service.

Fred Newby, 92, of Tenlands Care Home, Ferryhill, County Durham, was 18-years-old when he joined the Royal Air Force in 1940.

He rose to the rank of flight lieutenant and has now been awarded an RAF Bomber Command Clasp.

Mr Newby said: “It was nice to get but when you think back to be dropping bombs on the Germans is not what you expect to do with your life."

Mr Newby qualified as an RAF gunner in 1942 on Lancaster Bombers and joined 103 Squadron as a wireless operator, flying 12 missions.

He transferred to 156 Squadron in 1943 to join the Pathfinder teams flying Lancaster Bombers and completed another 22 missions, including a raid on Berlin.

The Pathfinders flew ahead of the slower bomb-laden Lancasters to drop incendiaries onto the target area to highlight it for the main force.

During his time with the Pathfinders, Mr Newby had a lucky escape when a bullet passed through the glass panel he was looking through close to his head.

He moved on to become a trainer on Lancaster Bombers at Church Broughton, in Derbyshire, and then trained pilots in Singapore to fly the bombers.

He left the RAF in 1945 and married his wife Joan at St Luke’s Church, Ferryhill, in 1962 and they had four children.

Last year the Government decided that the bomber crews of the Second World War deserved recognition and the clasp was created.

Maria Parkin, a carer at Tenlands, said: “We’re really proud of him. He is a real gentleman and it’s well deserved.”