Flypast at RAF gunner's funeral

Mr McIntosh flew 55 missions during WWII

Hundreds of mourners have attended the funeral of a war hero who became the RAF's most decorated air gunner.

Wallace McIntosh of Aberdeen died aged 87 on Monday. An RAF Tornado bomber performed a special fly-past during the service at Dyce Parish Church.

He survived 55 World War II missions as a Lancaster rear gunner in Bomber Command's 207 Squadron.

Mr McIntosh's friend Ken Williams told the funeral: "The world has lost a great hero and a real gentleman."

Flying Officer McIntosh is believed to hold the record for downing the most enemy planes from a bomber, with eight confirmed kills and one "probable".

He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Medal and Distinguished Flying Cross twice - the RAF's highest honour for bravery - for bombing raids between 1943 and 1944.

In one mission he shot down three German fighter aircraft as his Lancaster bomber carried out a raid on enemy armour during preparations for the Normandy landings.

Wallace's achievement was quite exceptional and the Royal Air Force wanted to pay its compliments to the memory of a real hero Group Captain Mark Roberts

His efforts earned him a rare telegram of congratulations from the leader of Bomber Command, Air Chief Marshal Sir Arthur Harris.

The Tornado GR4 flypast was organised by 12 (Bomber) Squadron based at RAF Lossiemouth.

Station commander, Group Captain Mark Roberts, said: "Wallace's achievement was quite exceptional and the Royal Air Force wanted to pay its compliments to the memory of a real hero and I hope it's a fitting tribute."

Mr McIntosh was born in a barn near Tarves, Aberdeenshire, in 1920.

According to his 2003 biography, Gunning for the Enemy, he joined the RAF at the height of the war to escape from the poverty of life as a farm labourer.

He died from lung cancer at Aberdeen Royal Infirmary.