RAF WW2 hero praised by King Charles who survived a mid-air collision and 30 bombing missions over Hitler’s Nazi Germany dies aged 100

• Pilot Officer Russell ‘Rusty’ Waughman died peacefully earlier this weak
• According to son Pete, he was surrounded by family at his home in Warwickshire

A Second World War RAF hero who survived a mid-air collision and 30 bombing missions over Hitler’s Nazi Germany has died aged 100.

Pilot Officer Russell ‘Rusty’ Waughman was previously praised by King Charles for his efforts during the most intense periods of the war.

His son Pete Waughman said Rusty died peacefully surrounded by family at his home in Kenilworth, Warwickshire, earlier this week. 

Earlier this year, the King met Rusty and other Bomber Command veterans at RAF Coningsby, Lincolnshire, on a visit to honour the 80th anniversary of the Dambusters raid.

He told the audience: ‘Thank God for all these men – people like you who looked after us.’

Pilot Officer Russell ‘Rusty’ Waughman, who has been praised by King Charles, has died at the age of 100

Rusty, originally from Shotley Bridge, County Durham, was aged just 20 when he began flying operations with 101 Squadron in November 1943

Rusty was part of 101 Squadron which did special operations and had one of the highest casualty rates in Bomber Command.

Upon completing his tour of 30 operations in June 1944, his group captain told his crew they were the first to achieve this in six months.

The lifespan of a typical airman at the time was just a handful of sorties.

In one raid on Leipzig, 76 aircraft were lost and in a subsequent operation to Haselt he collided with another Lancaster Bomber in the sky over Belgium.

Miraculously, Rusty was able to bring the Lancaster home and crash-land it back at base, with his crew unscathed. The other Lancaster crew all perished.

Rusty later survived an operation to Munich having lost part of their port wing and made it back from a disastrous raid on Nuremburg in March 1944 when 97 aircraft were lost.

In the run-up to D-Day, he carried out bombing operations on railway yards in Nazi-occupied France and the tank depot at Mailly-le-Camp, where his Lancaster was blown upside down.

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His final sortie took place on June 5, 1944, the day before D-Day, when they used their ABC Radio Countermeasure Equipment to listen to German fighter controls transmission and jam their broadcasts.

Rusty was involved in the Berlin Airlift after the war ended and became an instructor and examiner on 30 Squadron Transport Command.

He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross and Air Force Cross before resigning his commission in 1952 to look after his sick wife, staying on in the Reserve of Officers until 1960.

He spent his final years in Kenilworth, and was heavily involved in Bomber Command commemorations, once receiving a 10 minute standing ovation after a moving speech.

Pete said: ‘It was very unusual for someone in Bomber Command to complete a tour as the attrition rate was so high.

‘Dad considered himself very lucky but I think you make your own luck.

‘From talking to him and his crew when they were alive you could see how close they were and how much they trusted each other.

‘He loved his family and we are all very proud of him.

‘It was a peaceful end for him surrounded by his family.’

Rusty was described as a ‘wonderful gentleman’ by members of the Bomber Command veterans community.

The International Bomber Command Centre (IBCC) said: ‘It is with great sadness that we announce the death of Pilot Officer Russell ‘Rusty’ Waughman DFM, AFM and Ld’H, who passed away last night at the age of 100.

‘We send our sincere condolences to his sons Ian and Peter and the rest of the family.

‘Rusty was a much-loved friend and supporter of the IBCC.

‘He had visited the centre and memorial on many occasions, and it was always a great pleasure to spend time with him.

‘We were delighted when Rusty agreed to be our guest speaker at the Bomber Command Day Dinner in July 2022.

‘His 10-minute standing ovation from the guests was a testament to the quality of his speech, which he delivered without notes.

‘We thank you, for all you did for your country, and for your support to the IBCC.

‘Such a wonderful gentleman and we will miss you greatly. Lest We Forget.’

His son Pete Waughman said Rusty died peacefully surrounded by family at his home in Kenilworth, Warwickshire, earlier this week

Aviation historian Steve Darlow said it was ‘testament to his skill’ that Rusty completed a tour in such trying circumstances.

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He said: ‘Rusty was operational during one of the most important periods during World War Two, the Battle of Berlin, at which point Bomber Command were sending out hundreds of aircraft every night who contended with German night fighters, searchlights, flak and enemy defences.

‘It was quite an accomplishment to survive it. He said it was down to luck but I think it was testament to his skill.

‘He said the raid at Nuremburg, when so many aircraft were lost, stayed with him forever.

‘In the run up to D-Day he bombed railway yards and tank depots, and he was later involved in the Berlin Airlift.

‘Rusty was such a generous, warm man and always wanted to know about you, when everyone wanted to know about him.’

Sywell Aviation Museum said: ‘We are saddened to learn that Flt Lt Russell Rusty Waughman DFC AFC sadly passed away just shy of his 101st birthday.

‘He completed a tour of operations, which began during the Battle of Berlin, where they did several operations.

‘Surviving a mid-air collision, only to write the aircraft off on landing, Rusty and his crew on a subsequent flight had a miraculous escape when their aircraft was blown upside down, over the target, at Mailly-le-Camp.

‘They also survived the Nuremberg raid on 30th March 1944, when 97 aircraft were lost – including about one quarter of 101 Sqn strength that night.

‘Our sincere condolences to his family and friends. Blue skies Rusty.’

Of the 135,000 aircrew who served in Bomber Command during World War Two, 55,000 were killed, a 44 per cent fatality rate.

Rusty, originally from Shotley Bridge, County Durham, was aged just 20 when he began flying operations with 101 Squadron in November 1943.

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