One of Britain’s oldest veterans has celebrated his 107th birthday.
Flying Officer, Arthur Steel is the oldest remaining member of RAF Coastal Command 254 Squadron.
He flew in strike missions across the North Sea between Britain and Norway and also worked in the Intelligence section of the RAF.
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Arthur even survived serious injuries when his Bristol Beaufighter plummeted into the sea in 1944.
He and pilot Flt Lt, Anthony Adams, were flying on a sortie to Norway when their plane suffered engine failure.
It went into a fast vertical dive before plunging into a minefield at over 300mph and disintegrating.
Arthur recalled the horror, saying: “Anthony said, ‘I can’t hold it any more’ and a few moments later, the plane turned over.
“As we fell, I was watching the speed and it was 270 knots – about 320mph.
“I knew we should both be dead within a few seconds.
“It went bang – straight down and disintegrated and Tony was killed on the impact.
“My leg was flopping about and my head was nearly scalped.”
Injured and trapped in the wreckage, Arthur managed to pull himself free and make his way to the surface.
He was later picked up by a Grimsby-based trawler which had made its way through the minefield to rescue him.
Arthur said: “I was in the water about an hour – I managed to hold onto the fuel tanks which had torn out of the wings.
“Then, I saw a trawler in the distance and I blew the whistle we were issued with.
“The trawler came over and one man jumped in with a rope and put it around me and they pulled me in.”
The trawler’s captain was awarded an MBE, and the crew mate who jumped into the sea with a rope tied around his waist to rescue Arthur was awarded the National Humane Association award for bravery.
Arthur survived terrible injuries and spent seven months in hospital.
Arthur added: “Naval doctors that came to see me took one look at my leg and said ‘That will need to come off’.
“Someone else said ‘You might do that in the Navy but hang on, you can’t do that, he’s Air Force property’
Arthur’s leg was saved and after seven months in the hospital, he returned home to his wife Rachel.
The couple went on to have three children – Sheila, John and Peter.
Arthur was able to rejoin the RAF, but not in a flying capacity and saw out the war first in intelligence.
He then worked to resettle airmen returning from war.
Arthur said of his war days that there was “no time” to be scared, but recalled: “You would be sitting with someone chatting away, walk out to your separate planes and the next thing you know they would be going down in flames.”
He celebrated his 107th birthday at Beach Lawns Residential and Nursing Home in Weston-super-Mare, Somerset.
He was visited by representatives of the Scouts King’s Guard, who presented him with a special pin, as well as councillor John Crockford-Hawley, Mayor of Weston-super-Mare, as reported by Need To Know.
A spokesperson for Weston-super-Mare Town Council said: “Beach Lawns care home resident Arthur Steel was celebrating when the mayor dropped in to say ‘happy birthday’ and came with a surprise guest.
“King Scout Caoimhe Abdul-Wahab also visited.
“Arthur was a King Scout in the reign of George V.”
Cllr Crockford-Hawley said: “Chatting with someone of that age whose memory is pincer sharp is amusing, amazing and inspiring.”
Arthur was presented with the Scout Association’s Thanks Badge for his many decades of service to Scouting in Bristol and Somerset.
Well-wishers praised Arthur, too.
Sharon Rachel Williams said: “You look fabulous for your age.
“Have a wonderful day.”
And Eileen Lloyd added: “Wow happy 107th birthday you’re looking fab – enjoy your special day.”
Donald Rose, 109, is the oldest surviving veteran in the UK and is thought to be the seventh oldest in the world.
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