This is a historic and very celebratory episode celebrating the life and achievements of Britain's oldest remaining member of RAF Coastal Command 254 Squadron, Flying Officer Arthur Steel who graciously has given time to speak to the podcast about his time in RAF Coastal Command where he flew in his strike squadron across the North Sea at targets and conveys between here and Norway, and his time working in the Intelligence section of the RAF.

Arthur joins us on the show, now aged 106 years old from his room overlooking the sunlit sands of Weston Super Mare, a stones throw from the site once occupied by the Bristol aviation works where his Bristol Beaufighter he flew in 254 Squadron was built. A very proud, humble and more genuine man you would struggle to ever meet. I am grateful to Arthur, and his daughter Sheila and the staff of the Care Home where Arthur now lives for their assistance and love in making sure we got to make this show a possibility.

This is for Sheila and her siblings and Arthur's grandchildren and also in loving memory of Flt.Lt Tony.W.Adams and the crews of all the other members of Coastal Command who gave their lives for the greater good.

Background

On the 20th July 1944 he and his crew member and pilot Flt Lt Anthony (Tony) Adams (service number 86654) were flying on a mission to Norway as part of a squadron active sortie when their plane, a Bristol Beaufighter TFX NE225 developed engine failure in the port engine. Tony attempted to wrestle control of the failing plane and unable to maintain altitude or elevation, the plane descended into a fast vertical dive. Hitting the North Sea and disintegrating on impact, an impact now known to have happened at 320mph.

This was one of the rarest occasions in RAF operational history where a crew member in a plane hitting the water at such an incline and also velocity, survived.

Arthur, awakening underwater, injured and trapped in the wreckage managed to pull himself free and make his way to the surface with very serious injuries.

He was later picked up by a Grimsby based trawler whose captain was awarded the MBE and the crew mate who jumped into the sea with a rope tied round his waist to rescue Arthur given the National Humane Association award for bravery.

Arthur survived, with seven months in hospital and able to rejoin but not in a flying capacity saw out WW2 first in an Intelligence role and then working to resettle and help returning airmen coming from theatres of war across the globe.

Sadly Tony Adams died and his body was never recovered and he is remembered on the Runnymede Memorial along with his illustrious comrades. Arthur talks lovingly and with pride about Tony and his guilt at having survived the crash when Tony was not so fortunate. The poignancy is raw.

This is Arthur's story in his own words. Aged 106. Recorded on the 28th April 2024 in Weston Sup...