American WWII pilot stationed at a Lincolnshire airfield has died at the age of 102
He served at the former RAF North Witham base
Lieutenant Colonel David Hamilton who once served at the former RAF North Witham base has died at the age of 102.
The American made a nostalgic return to see the area again in 2019 during the 75th commemoration of D-Day. Then he was the last surviving pilot from a pre-invasion Normandy mission.
As a 21-year-old he piloted a C-47 from near Colsterworth with paratroopers on board who were dropped behind German lines.
He once returned from a mission with 200 hundred holes in his aircraft from enemy fire.
He was awarded five Air Medals and the Distinguished Flying Cross for his service.
Cllr Richard Dixon-Warren, SKDC Lead Member for Armed Forces, said:
“Mr Hamilton embodied the spirit and sacrifice of the allies who joined Britain in the fight to liberate Europe. It was an honour to organise the visit.
“D-Day was under way as soon as those aircraft took off on a mission that helped to change the course of the war. We cannot overstate the importance of what they achieved.”
Lt Col Hamilton was awarded five Air Medals and the Distinguished Flying Cross for his service. He retired in 1963 as a Lt Colonel serving in intelligence.
In his last interview he said:
“My first mission was the Normandy invasion. Nothing I ever did exceeded that in importance and overall what it meant in the total war picture as far as Europe was concerned.”
When he visited South Kesteven, Mr Hamilton was met at Grantham railway station by air cadets and taken to North Witham for a tour of the airfield – once home to more than 3,000 American troops – where he unveiled an information board on the 1944 Pathfinder mission.
He then went to South Witham to unveil a commemorative bench and have lunch with schoolchildren.