Relatives of hero WWII pilot
A state-of-the-art accommodation block at a Yorkshire RAF base has been named after a highly decorated Second World War pilot. Report by Matt Clark.Although from Northumberland, Flight Sergeant Frederick Stuart served with 426 Squadron, a Royal Canadian Air Force unit, which during the war flew Lancaster bombers from RAF Linton-on-Ouse near York. FS Stuart was awarded the Conspicuous Gallantry Medal (CGM) for attacking his target despite severe damage to his aircraft. He was one of only 103 airmen to be awarded the RAF CGM during the Second World War.In recognition of his heroism, the accommodation block, part of a multi-million pound MOD scheme to modernise single living accommodation called 'Project SLAM' - has been named after FS Stuart. And so his surviving relatives went along to the airbase to see it for themselves.
A picture of FS Stuart hangs in the foyer alongside his story, and that was the first point of call for his daughter Sandra Spears before the party was taken to see the base's memorial room where the history of her father and 426 Squadron is prominently displayed.On 20 October 1943 FS Stuart and his crew were tasked against Leipzig. Twice he was engaged by enemy fighters which he initially managing to shake off. But they didn't give up and a Messerschmitt 109 and Junkers 88 rendered his aircraft almost unfit to fly, leaving it with shattered cockpits and gun turrets, holes in the fuel tanks, damaged hydraulics and no navigation instruments.
Against all odds Stuart elected to continue the vital mission and successfully bombed his target before guiding his crippled aircraft home. The citation for his medal even mentions that he made a 'masterly landing'. Mrs Spears, from Prudhoe, Northumberland, was due to be born in late 1943 but didn't arrive until January 1944. FS Stuart was shot down and killed in December 1943, missing his daughter's birth by a month.In an emotional visit Mrs Spears took along her father's Conspicuous Gallantry Medal which she proudly showed to present day pilots. She 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."
In all, thirteen of FS Stuart's relatives made the emotional pilgrimage to Linton travelling great distances to do so. Among them were his two sisters and great grand-daughter, Lauren Denton, aged 12, from Portsmouth, and great-great niece Alysha Hartley, aged nine, from Barrow-in-Furness.Neither of the youngsters were aware they were visiting the base, but as they learned more of their hero relative both agreed they were very proud of him.
The visit came about when FS Stuart's niece, Helen Lambert, heard about the naming ceremony and suggested that Mrs Spears should contact the base:
"When I was young nothing was said about Freddie's war history" said Mrs Lambert. "I suppose we began to learn more when various members did some research but Sandra has found an incredible amount about him.
"She is over the moon today, this visit has taught me - and all of us in the family - about the life he led and the people he knew in the last few months of his life. This has been such a special day and for the little ones in particular to understand something of their family's history."
Instituted in 1855 as a reward for gallantry for the Royal Navy and first awarded in the Baltic and Crimea, the Conspicuous Gallantry Medal was extended to the RAF in 1943 to recognise gallantry whilst flying on operations.
By British Ministry of Defence on August 30,2007
20.01.2008. 12:10
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