War hero shot down by Nazis during first flight honoured by RAF

A war veteran who was shot down on his very first flight during World War Two and went on to survive multiple flying missions across Europe, will be the guest of honour at the Royal Air Force’s 100th birthday party.

Stirling bomber crash-landed with one wing on fire

Walter Bentley, who turns 97 this September and lives at Alderwood Care Home, crashed his Stirling bomber in September 1944 but lived to tell the tale.

When his plane was fired at, Walter had to crash land the aircraft with one wing on fire near Nijmegen in the Netherlands.

He had been tasked with dropping supplies to the 1st Airborne Division at Arnhem, as part of Operation Market Garden, when he was targeted.

His mission had been part of an operation to capture eight bridges that spanned a network of canals and rivers on the Dutch/German border.

Only a week after his crash, Walter was back in England and airborne again, eventually playing a part in one of the largest and last Allied airborne operations of the war.

In March 1945, he towed a glider full of airborne troops during Operation Varsity, when the Allies crossed the Rhine into the heart of Western Germany.

Walter was awarded the 1939-45 Star with Bomber Command clasp and the 1939-45 France and Germany Star war medal for his part in the war.

Discharged from the RAF in the rank of flying officer in July 1946, he went on to work as a cabinet marker in Salford.

For his contribution to the war effort, Walter has been invited to attend the RAF100 Aircraft Tour in Manchester, as part of the RAF100 commemorations taking place on 14-16 September.

Emma Willoughby, manager at Alderwood Care Home in Salford, which is part of the Hill Care group, said: “Walter has only been living at the home since the start of August but we quickly learned of his career in the RAF during WW2.

“The Salford Veterans Network got in touch to tell us more about his part in the war, after he donated his RAF pilot’s logbook to them, containing details of his service and the operations he was part of.

“We feel honoured to have a WW2 hero living at the home and we’re looking forward to supporting him during his part in the RAF100 Aircraft Tour in Albert Square in September.”

click here for more details or to contact Alderwood Care Home