WORLD War Two RAF Bomber Command pilot Flt Lt Harry Richardson DFC was the guest of honour at an event in Prestwick at the weekend to celebrate his 108th birthday.
During the celebration at the RAF Association Club, Group Captain Alastair Montgomery from the International Bomber Command Centre (IBCC) in Lincoln, presented Flt Lt Richardson with a record of his service history in recognition of his outstanding service to Bomber Command, the wider Royal Air Force and commercial aviation.
As well as details of his operational sorties between May 1941 and January 1945 in Europe with 149 squadron and in South-East Asia with 59 Squadron, the biography also features photos of Harry as a young boy, as a pilot and with his two brothers, Ken and Stan, who served in the RAF and the Royal Navy.
Harry said he was overjoyed to receive such a detailed account of his life and career in the RAF.
He said: “What an emotional evening, my logbook was lost in a house move and I was devastated.
"The IBCC have put together this fantastic record of my service, and I couldn’t be happier.”
ACM Sir Michael Graydon GCB CBE, former chief of the air staff and chair of International Bomber Command Centre, said it was an honour to be able to celebrate Harry’s birthday.
“Harry Richardson represents a body of people whose contribution to victory in World War Two was not recognised,” he said.
“The treatment of Bomber Command at the end of the war was shameful. It has been a privilege for us at the International Bomber Command Centre to help to rectify this failure and to have met such people as Harry.
“Happy birthday, Harry and thank you for all you did for the nation and for the freedom we enjoy today.”
Harry, who turned 108 on February 8, was inspired to become a pilot after watching Hawker Hurricanes taking off and landing at RAF Northolt during the summer of 1939.
Soon after, he completed his pilot training in Scotland before joining 149 Squadron at RAF Mildenhall.
Harry and his crew took part in the first two 1,000-bomber raids and unlike so many, he survived two remarkable operational tours.
After completing 30 operational sorties in the European theatre, Harry took up an instructional role on the Avro Anson at RAF Lichfield.
He then moved to the Far East, where he completed another 32 operational sorties on the B24 Liberator.
His longest mission was over 18 hours which, for a time, was the longest flown wartime mission.
After the war, Harry and his family moved to Prestwick, where he joined the National Air Traffic Service as an air traffic controller.
He climbed through the ranks and played a key role in assisting in the planning of the Air Traffic Service over the Atlantic.
Among his many accolades are a Distinguished Flying Cross for his bravery and airmanship and the prestigious Provost’s Medal, which recognises national or international achievement at the highest level for people who were born in, or are residents of, South Ayrshire.
During the VE Day 80 celebrations last year, he was honoured at events locally and nationally.
He was also present at the VE Day 80 concert at Horse Guards Parade in London and had the honour of sitting next to their Majesties King Charles III and Queen Camilla.
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