Wallace McIntosh

Born: 1920 at Tarves, Aberdeenshire. Died: 4 June, 2007, in Aberdeen, aged 87.

WHEN the Bank of Scotland recently carried out a survey of the great Scots, "Wallace McIntosh, war hero" was chosen among such illustrious names as John Logie Baird, Walter Scott, David Livingstone and Robert Louis Stevenson. This quiet and immensely modest man seldom spoke about his wartime adventures as a rear gunner in a Lancaster bomber. At that vulnerable and dangerous post - exposed to the elements and enemy bombers - McIntosh displayed tremendous courage and fortitude.

McIntosh survived 55 missions and holds the record for the most enemy kills, with eight confirmed and one "probable" during the perilous bombing raids on Germany during 1943 and 1944.

On one mission alone McIntosh shot down three German planes (also an RAF record) while his Lancaster carried out raids in northern France in the run-up to D-Day. Such was his renown after that mission he received a telegram of congratulations from Air Chief Marshal Sir Arthur "Bomber" Harris.

Wallace McIntosh was born into poverty and his mother gave up her son to be brought up by her parents. They, too, found work hard to come by and McIntosh was trailed round Aberdeenshire and Perthshire as they desperately searched for employment in the 1920s.

His education - he left school at 13 - was rudimentary, although he was well versed in skinning a sheep and guddling salmon from a burn.

He found work as a farm labourer and, although initially turned down by the RAF, McIntosh joined the air force in a junior capacity and was, by the outbreak of the war, training as an air gunner.

Throughout the war McIntosh was stationed with 207 Squadron at Langar in Lincolnshire, flying a remarkable total of 50 sorties throughout the conflict. His record as a rear gunner speaks for itself. The RAF called McIntosh "a true hero". It said: "Anyone who flew in Lancasters during the bombings knew the odds were against them. To do this job as well as he did was truly exceptional."

Rear gunners were in a particularly hazardous position: far removed from the main activities of their colleagues. The somewhat primitive communications system, the noise and wind added hugely to their logistical problems. McIntosh accepted these conditions with a courageous zeal, maintaining an optimistic and positive attitude which greatly encouraged other members of the crew.

The casualty list for 207 Squadron alone was considerable with 1,177 men killed or missing during operations.

McIntosh was awarded the Distinguished Flying Medal after 32 missions and in 1944 received the Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC). A month later he was awarded a bar to it. The DFC is the RAF's highest honour for bravery and McIntosh is one the very few to have been so honoured twice.

In 2003 Mel Rolfe wrote McIntosh's life story, Gunning For the Enemy, which told of his heroics and exploits throughout the war.

The book was launched in June that year at the Imperial War Museum at Duxford and McIntosh was joined by many of his former comrades with medals and smiles very much in evidence.

The book tells of one man's outstanding courage: a man who was blessed with a gracious and modest nature and throughout his life showed a kindness and generosity far beyond the call of duty.

After the war McIntosh returned to Aberdeenshire, where he worked initially for Hydro Electric and then as an agricultural salesman.

He married Christina Cooper, who predeceased him. He is survived by their three children.