Bomber hero Jack's proud but haunting memories

But Jack does not fit the quintessential image of a Battle of Britain hero, that of a dashing Spitfire or Hurricane pilot - he fought in bombers.

While the fighters were confronting the Luftwaffe, RAF bombers were heading at night deep into Germany to try to give the Nazis a taste of their own medicine.

And he was still only 19 when he won the Distinguished Flying Medal after a hazardous mission in October 1940 during which he shot down a Heinkel III bomber.

It was a proud moment for his parents living at Walton Avenue, Oakengates, when they heard of the award.

He's now 96, widowed, and living in a home at Stirling, near Toronto.

"He was able to drive up to about three years ago, but then he had to give up the driving and he is a bit down now because of that and because of the death of his son, and is not very happy about being in a home," said his nephew, Phillip Williams, of Johnstone Close, Wrockwardine Wood.

"Prior to that he was very chipper whenever I spoke to him. I imagine he would be the life and soul of a party. He was definitely extrovert, and adored his late wife. When I last spoke to him about three months ago he said: 'I can't wait to rejoin Eileen.'"

They had been married for 63 years.

Born in Church Street, Oakengates, on December 7, 1920, John James Mylod, known as Jack, emigrated to Canada in 1957 or 1958 and his wartime exploits have been written up several times by newspapers there.

In one interview he tells how while returning from that October 1940 mission over Germany their Wellington bomber played cat-and-mouse with two pursuing Heinkel III bombers.

“We dropped down into the clouds so they couldn’t see us.”

But as they emerged, one of the German aircraft strayed in front and Sergeant Mylod, manning the front turret, fired four bursts, at which the enemy plane caught fire and disappeared.

The DFM citation - it gives details of the incident a little differently, saying the Wellington attacked the Heinkel after it was spotted giving recognition signals after being caught in a searchlight beam - spoke of his "excellent shooting and judgment" and added "Sergeant Mylod has taken part in several major bombing missions and has shown great determination, initiative, and keenness."

On another night, also in October 1940, he was again front gunner when his pilot took him right down a main street of Berlin and they strafed it, with Jack firing the front guns and the rear gunner firing the rear guns.

"The lights were on," Jack said with incredulity in the interview.

"They really weren't expecting us. The crowds were going to the theatre, just a normal night," adding with a chuckle "but they scattered quick that night."

He was to serve as a wireless operator, gunner, and bomb aimer in both Wellington and Lancaster bombers during the war, stationed at RAF Methwold and a member of 75 Squadron. Later he was with 57 Squadron. After two operational tours, he became an instructor.

On one occasion he had to bail out when the bomber ran short of fuel, landing in a chicken pen in Surrey and sustaining a head injury which kept him in hospital for 18 days. On another occasion a shell sent their bomber into a steep dive and some crew members bailed out before the pilot regained control.

After the war he was haunted by demons of PTSD for a time.

"I would wake up in the night screaming my head off. But they didn't recognise it or know about it then. I never got any treatment for it. It took me about two and a half years to get over it with care... It was a shocking situation, and it was terrifying, of course, but you had to overcome it, which you did. Now that the war's over it still won't go away. Now you have time to worry about it, think about it, feel the terror that you suppressed."

Jack was the eldest brother of Phillip's late mother who, unusually, was always known as Vince. Phillip remembers that before Uncle Jack, Eileen, and their three children emigrated they lived at Red Lake, and also that he used to run the old snooker hall in Oakengates.

Jack last came back to Shropshire in 1997 although Phillip has been out to see him in Canada since.

In Canada he has attended ceremonies celebrating the efforts of the British and their allies in the Second World War.

"I don't think I have missed any," he told an interviewer. "I wouldn't stay away for any reason."

However, Phillip does not know if Jack will be able to attend a Remembrance event this year.

"He has lost his mobility. I assume he would desperately want to go."