WAGGA’S Bert Adams is a rarity.
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In 1944, he was a navigator on Lancaster bombers and survived 29 missions over war-torn Europe unscathed, along with the rest of his seven-man crew.
“When we arrived at the (467) squadron in September there were eight new crews and five months later there were only three left,” Mr Adams said on Monday – one of the biggest days of his life since surviving World War II.
Mr Adams, 93, was presented with the French National Order of the Legion of Honour by member for Riverina Michael McCormack in recognition of his contribution to the liberation of France from Nazi Germany.
“It is equivalent to the Victoria Cross,” Mr McCormack said after presenting Mr Adams with his medal in the Victory Memorial Gardens.
Mr Adams said one of his daughters, Kim McBeath, “did all the paperwork” after learning he was eligible for the prestigious medal.
Mr Adams proudly wore the Legion of Honour on Monday above his Australian war medals, which include the Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC).
“I hope to wear the medal tomorrow for the (Anzac Day) march,” Mr Adams said.
Mr Adams told the crowd that when he joined up in 1942 there was an eight-month waiting list for air crews.
The plane he flew in for more than 20 missions was mockingly nick-named Der Tag, which in some interpretations is German for signifying the day Germany begins to establish her supremacy.
Mr Adams on Monday thanked Mrs McBeath, the Federal Government and the Wagga RSL sub-branch for parts they played in Monday’s presentation.
After the war, he married Valerie in 1953, and they raised three children, Kim, Nancy and Bill. Mr Adams retired from high school mathematics teaching in 1960 and rejoined the RAAF as an educator in 1965, teaching apprentices at RAAF Base Wagga.