RAF WW2 hero who flew more than 30 bombing missions dies aged 99
A WORLD War Two hero who flew more than 30 bombing missions has died at the age of 99.
Douglas Petty, a former RAF flight engineer, was described as an officer and a gentleman and a typically humble veteran.
Pal Nick Beilby said: “He was a highly intelligent man who, like other veterans, didn’t take any credit for himself.”
Douglas joined up at 20 in 1943 and went on to fly in Halifax bombers with a Canadian crew.
Most of his 31 missions were over Nazi-occupied areas, including a daring daylight raid over Normandy in 1944.
He also flew nine low-level, high-risk mine-laying missions over the Norwegian fjords.
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Douglas, later an MoT examiner, died in York on New Year’s Eve.
His funeral will be held next Wednesday on what would have been his 100th birthday.
His daughter Margaret said: “We thought that would be a good way to celebrate his life.”
As well as Margaret, Douglas leaves a sister, Helen, and a granddaughter, Samantha.
