FOLLOWING recent reports about the death of the last member of the Dambusters, one daring airman is alive and well living in Leyland!

Matthew St Claire Allsopp, 82, is the last known surviving member of Nine Squadron, who flew with the legendary 617, known as the Dambusters.

Mr Allsopp, who moved to Leyland after the Second World War and worked at the former Leyland Motors, was a gunner and flew with the Dambusters on dozens of missions. The daring raids helped turn the tide of the war.

Mr Allsopp is now enjoying retirement with wife Margaret in Leyland Lane. They have one daughter.

He said: "When the 617 hadn't enough aircraft we used to make up the numbers. We helped out with the dam busting."

Jamaican-born Mr Allsopp was a 'tail end Charlie' -- a rear gunner in a Lancaster Bomber. He often spent up to 12 hours crammed in a tiny space in the back of the huge aircraft ready to spot any enemy aircraft.

His squadron carried 12,000lb bombs, capable of smashing open dams and sinking battleships -- on top secret missions. One of their targets was the Turpitz, a ship causing havoc sinking Allied supply ships. It was thought to be unsinkable until Nine Squadron set their sights.

Mr Allsopp said: "It caused a lot of trouble. We only damaged it first and then they moved it away. We put it out of action the second time, but we sank it on the third!"

Mr Allsopp flew on raids from Bardney in Lincolnshire to burst the Sorpe and Urft dams in Germany, and across Europe and Russia. Now, more than half-a-century on, he has outlived all his old allies, and there is just one Lancaster Bomber still flying.

He said: "We got shot up a bit, but we managed to get through.

"All my crew members are dead now. It was a good feeling between everyone and the crew were like family.

"The Lancaster was a super plane. It wasn't very comfortable at the back though and you got icicles on your nose!"