Video: Yorkshire war veterans in poignant visit to air museum

Warrant Officer Paddy Hope, 97, an ex Mosquito navigator takes a close look at the Mosquito aircaft

INSPECTING a de Havilland Mosquito at Yorkshire Air Museum, former Second World War navigator Paddy Hope had more reason than most visitors to wonder at its design and capability.

The 97-year-old was part of the 540 Photographic Reconnaissance Unit and had carried out 26 successful missions before being forced to bail out after the engines on his Mosquito failed on his 27th, in December 1942. Following his capture, he spent two years as a prisoner of war in Germany.

Mr Hope was among four veterans who had the chance to share their stories during a special visit to the museum at Elvington yesterday.

He and fellow former Mosquito navigator Roger Calvert, 90, both from Leeds, were joined by friends, former Spitfire pilot Jimmy Taylor, 91, and Ray Worral, 89, a Lancaster bomber crew member, in taking in the sights including other wartime aircraft the Halifax and DC3 Dakota.

Mr Worral, from York, came down over occupied France in 1944 but made it back to England, a subject he later wrote about in the book Escape From France.