Veterans pay tribute to real hero.
Mourners packed into a Tyneside church to pay their last respects to a war hero and Dambuster.The service, held at St Aidan and St Stephen's Church, in South Shields, saw family, friends and veterans of the Second World War say goodbye to former RAF officer Fred Whitfield.
Fred died at the age of 84 on April 2, at his home in Walworth Avenue, in Horsley Hill.
One of the original Dambusters during the Second World War, Fred was awarded one of the RAF's highest ranking medals, the Distinguished Flying Medal, aged just 25. Tears were shed as young officers from RAF Leeming carried his coffin, draped with a Union Jack, into the church led by RAF Flight Lieutenant David King.
Fred's widow, Betty, was also at the funeral with the couple's children, Raymond, Brenda and Kevin.
The service was led by Rev Ralph Shaw, who spoke of Fred's attempts to join the Air Force when he was too young and his rise through the ranks from rear gunner to warrant officer.
He also described how Fred twice overcame cancer with the support of his war-time bride Betty. The Dambusters' theme was played at the service and buglers from the Borneo Band played The Last Post.
Groups including the North East Bomber Command Unit and The Normandy Veterans' Association also carried their flags.
Mr King said: "We were honoured to have been able to pay our respects to one of the men who risked their lives during the war, and especially to someone as distinguished as Fred."
Fred was famed for bringing down a Messerschmitt and Junker 88 over Germany during the RAF raids.
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| Publication: | Evening Chronicle (Newcastle, England) |
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| Date: | Apr 13, 2005 |
| Words: | 274 |
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