RAF war hero is finally laid to rest
( 2003-05-14 13:59 ) (7 )

British Wing Commander Adrian Warburton, the most decorated British airman of WWII, is seen in this undated handout photo issued by Britain's Ministry of Defense. [AP]

An unconventional second world war flying ace considered by many to have contributed more than any single pilot to the allied victory is finally being laid to rest today with full military honours.

The funeral of Wing Commander Adrian "Warby" Warburton, who became a legend for flying daringly low reconnaissance missions over enemy territory, is taking place in Germany, where his body and remains of his plane were found last year almost 60 years after he went missing.

Among the mourners expected are Warburton's widow, Eileen, the aviation researcher Frank Dorber who led the search for the pilot's remains and, representing the RAF, Air Marshall Sir Roderick Goodall.

Aged 26, Warburton was the pilot of one of two Lockheed F-5B reconnaissance planes which flew out to photograph German airfields on April 12, 1944. They flew together to a point 100 miles north of Munich, where they separated, planning to meet up after their missions. Warburton did not make the rendezvous.

Warburton was idiosyncratic, refusing to wear conventional uniform, but he became one of the RAF's most decorated pilots. His photographs of targets in the Mediterranean were vital to the allied campaign in Italy and north Africa.

One of his most famous sor ties was over Taranto harbour in Italy in 1940. He braved intense flak, and flew so low that he returned with a ship's aerial trailing from his tailwheel.

On another mission a bullet pierced his chest and his aircraft caught fire. He dived his plane to extinguish the flames and removed the bullet himself.

His photographs of the coastline of Sicily, which helped set up the successful invasion, prompted one officer to describe Warburton as "the most valuable pilot in the RAF".

The citation for his Distinguished Flying Cross read: "This officer has never failed".

Warburton was educated at St Edward's school in Oxford, also attended by Dambusters hero Guy Gibson and by Douglas Bader. However, he did not become as famous, possibly because the Mediterranean campaign is not as celebrated as other episodes.

After 10 years of research, Mr Dorber pinpointed a spot in a field where he believed Warburton's plane crashed near the River Paar, not far from Munich. The remains of the plane were found, a serial number on its engine and camera equipment confirming that it was Warburton's.

A service is taking place in Gmund, near Munich, to be followed by the burial at Durnbach Commonwealth war graves cemetery.

(Guardian, Britain)