John Dow of Invergowrie, who flew in nearly 100 raids with 97 Squadron in Bomber Command during the Second World War, has died at the age of 89.
He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross by King George VI at Buckingham Palace in June 1945 for valour and courage while flying in active operations against the enemy.
The Distinguished Flying Medal was also presented to him, as was a Commendation for Meritorious Service with the Royal Air Force.
On the outbreak of the war in 1939, Mr Dow at the age of 17 volunteered for the RAF and trained as a wireless operator, reaching the rank of flight lieutenant.
He flew with 97 Straits Settlement Squadron, a Pathfinder Squadron which lay the flares to guide bombers to their targets.
Only the best crews were chosen and Mr Dow completed three tours of duty taking part in 98 operations with a total flying time of 978 hours including raids over Oslo, Milan, Paris, St Valery, St Nazaire and Berlin.
His achievement he volunteered for more operations than he was rostered to perform was remarkable in view of the considerable risks faced by Pathfinder crews of being shot down.
The survival rate for one tour (30 operations) was calculated at 16%, two tours only 3% and three tours even less.
Delivering the eulogy at his funeral, the Rev Robert J Ramsay told mourners at Invergowrie Parish Church there were lighter aspects to Mr Dow’s duties.
”In addition to acting as wireless operator, John was in charge of two homing pigeons that would be released and sent back to base if the plane had to be ditched in the sea,” he explained.
”Sometimes they even took a spaniel and the dog had its own log book.”
Mr Dow was born in Kilmarnock and educated at the local academy, and left to serve his apprenticeship as an electrical engineer with his father who had a plumbing and electrical business.
He returned to the business after he left the RAF in 1953 and later moved to Hamilton where he met his wife Margaret.
Following a spell in Motherwell he came to Dundee where he worked for the Hydro Board as an electrical engineer, retiring in 1987.
Settling in Invergowrie, he and Margaret became elders of the parish church, with Mr Dow becoming particularly prominent.
He served on the mission committee, helped with the parish newsletter and up to a few weeks before his death he was a volunteer driver on the car rota bringing members to worship on Sundays.
On Remembrance Sunday Mr Dow, along with two other veterans, proudly laid a wreath at the war memorial in tribute to fallen comrades.
He took up jogging on his retirement and completed half and full marathons. He and his wife also golfed at Downfield and at 72 he cycled from Land’s End to John o’ Groats resplendent each day in a shirt and tie to raise money for charity.
He was also a keen walker and went regularly with friend Peter Cram to climb Munros and complete many rights-of-way walks.
Mr Ramsay said John was devoted to Margaret and a caring father to Louise and Janice, whose death in 2006 affected him deeply. He was also a grandfather to Jennifer and Katie.
The minister added: ”We give thanks to God for one of nature’s gentlemen, remembering John’s unstinting service to his country and to his church, and the love he showed to his family and friends.”
The Rev David Logan, minister of Forfar St Margaret’s and a chaplain at RAF Leuchars, represented the RAF at the service.
Mr Dow was laid to rest at Longforgan Cemetery.