RAF to honour veteran for flying in WW2 bombing runs

RAF to honour veteran for flying in WW2 bombing runs

5 November 2014

A KILLYLEAGH war veteran will today be presented with a prestigious award.

Ninety four-year old Martin Charters will be presented with a Bomber Command Clasp during a special presentation ceremony at Down Council’s Downshire Civic Centre headquarters.

Mr. Charters, who flew nearly 40 missions during the Second World War, many of them as a rear gunner in Lancaster Bombers, will be presented with his award by Down Council chairman William Walker. Air Vice Marshall David Niven and other guests will also be in attendance.

The Killyleagh man joined the RAF in 1941 and during his remarkable service throughout the war he worked as a mechanic on Spitfires and later as rear gunner in a Halifax, seeing nearly 40 missions over Europe. He also trained rear gunners for Lancaster bombers.

The Bomber Command Clasp was approved by the Queen for those who qualified with service to Bomber Command between 1939 and 1945 and who already hold the 39-45 Star.

In August, Mr. Charters was the special guest of councillor Walker at Newcastle’s Festival of Flight where the four-engined Lancaster bomber which played a pivotal role in the Allies victory over the German forces in World War Two was one of the event’s main attractions.

Mr. Charters was sent to train as a mechanic in Blackpool after joining the RAF, before he was deployed to St. Athens in South Wales. He initially trained on a Hawker Fury biplane, with his training lasting around 11 months before he was sent to Fighter Command 11 Group to work on Spitfires as a mechanic in early 1942.

The war veteran was later moved to an army unit before being transferred to the legendary Bomber Command in 1943 and based in West Yorkshire with his operational training for bombing missions to Germany carried out in the Isle of Man.

Ahead of today’s presentation ceremony, councillor Walker said it will be his pleasure to present the Bomber Command Clasp to a man highly respected in his home town of Killyleagh.

The council chairman added: “Martin is one of the few surviving members of Bomber Command and it is fitting that he is to receive such a prestigious award.

“Martin saw a lot of active service and was delighted to be in Newcastle in the summer to see again the distinctive Lancaster Bomber soaring overheard. Today’s presentation ceremony is a special day not only for Martin but everyone who knows him.”