A WORLD War II veteran who is the last surviving member of the air attack upon the German Warship Bismarck has taken to the skies again as he was honoured at a flying club event.
Described as one of its most distinguished members, the Scottish Aero Club (SAC), Scotland’s oldest civilian flying club, held a tribute for John “Jock” Moffat during which he took part in a special fly-past.
He was also presented with exact replicas of his war medals, which were lost some years ago.
Mr Moffat is author of I Sank the Bismark, a novel detailing how he dropped the torpedo that crippled the Bismarck, rendering her un-manoeuvrable and at the mercy of the Royal Navy - leading to her eventual sinking.
The 96-year-old veteran was delivered to the special event at Perth Airport in a 1939 Mercedes 170, the last Mercedes car supplied outside Germany before the outbreak of war, donated by the Morris Leslie Group owners of Perth Airport.
He was met by a piper and guard of honour supplied by local units of the Sea Cadet Corps and Air Training Corps and was presented his medals by Major Andrew Gordon, Vice Lord Lieutenant of Perth & Kinross who arrived at the event in his vintage Tiger Moth aircraft.
Mr Moffat then flew with his friend, Mike Ashmole in his Maule Super Rocket in the lead plane, in company with a Jungmann, Tiger Moth and Pitts Special.
A spokesman for the club said: "John continues to demonstrate a love of aviation that is second to none, even although he is now well into his 10th decade.
"He still takes every opportunity to get airborne, although these days he is accompanied by another pilot due to his deteriorating eyesight."
Mr Moffat has been a member of the SAC for more than 30 years following a 40-year break from flying after his wartime service as a pilot in the Fleet Air Arm.
It was while flying off HMS Ark Royal on May 24, 1941 that he was involved in the successful torpedoing of the German battleship Bismarck.
Piloting Fairey Swordfish 5C/L9726 along with his Observer JD "Dusty" Miller and Telegraphist/Air Gunner J Hayman, Mr Moffat dropped the torpedo that crippled the Bismarck.
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