A World War Two veteran who served in the 466 Squadron of the RAF based in Driffield has written about his memories of his time in service.
Ronald Last, 91, served in the squadron from October 1943 until he was shot down on an operation to bomb Berlin on January 28 1944.
After leaving the air base in Driffield the Halifax HX345 was attacked by a German Night Fighter over Berlin. Only four men survived of a crew of seven.
Mr Last has shared his experiences of baling out of the aircraft over a burning Berlin:
“On the order to ‘bale out’ I attached my parachute pack to my harness and went to the escape hatch, but on leaving the aircraft I got caught on the side of the hatch and I yelled ‘push me’ and someone did. The next thing I remembered is floating down and seeing all the fires directly below me.
“On nearing the ground I noticed what appeared to be tram wires in a roadway so I deflected my chute and dropped to the ground.
I was picked up immediately by a German soldier with a rifle and fixed bayonet and when I attempted to press my chute release button, he pushed the bayonet extremely close to me. So I put my hands up.
“Apparently, as a prisoner, I was of some value to him. I was taken first to a civilian hospital but was refused attention.
“I was taken to a military post, searched and questioned. Name, number and rank.
Mr Last was treated in hospital and was later taken to a prisoner of war camp called Stalagluft 3 at Zagan, Poland at the beginning of March 1944. This was the camp of the famous Great Escape on March 24 1944.
This year on ANZAC Day, Mr Last visited Driffield from his home in Bournemouth, to pay his respects to the fallen.