GRANDMOTHER Sandra Spears never knew her father. A highly-decorated Second World War hero, he was killed a month before she was born.

But yesterday, she made an emotional return to the base from which he served so courageously and where his name has now been immortalised for modern airmen.

Although from Northumberland, Flight Sergeant Frederick Stuart served with 426 Squadron, a Royal Canadian Air Force unit, which flew Lancaster bombers from RAF Linton-on-Ouse, near York.

He was awarded the Conspicuous Gallantry Medal -second only to the Victoria Cross -for attacking a target despite severe damage to his aircraft.

He was one of only 103 airmen to be awarded the medal during the Second World War, and in recognition of his bravery, a new accommodation block at the base has been named after him.

Yesterday, Mrs Spears, from Prudhoe, Northumberland, and 12 other relatives visited the base to see it and share their memories.

In October 1943, Flt Sgt Stuart and his crew were sent to Leipzig, Germany. Twice he was attacked by enemy fighters, initially managing to shake them off.

But they did not give up and the enemy fighters left his Lancaster almost unfit to fly -with shattered cockpits and gun turrets, holes in the fuel tanks, damaged hydraulics and no navigation instruments.

Against all odds, Flt Sgt Stuart continued with the mission and successfully bombed his target before he guided his crippled aircraft home. The citation for his medal even mentions that he made a "masterly landing".

Mrs Spears was due to be born in late 1943, but did not arrive until January 1944. Flt Sgt Stuart was shot down and killed in December 1943, missing his daughter's birth by a month.

Showing her father's medal to today's pilots, Mrs Spears said: "This visit has meant everything to me. I never believed I would come along and see where he flew from.

"To think he is so well thought of by the RAF that they named a barrack block after him makes me so proud. I think it is fantastic."