Distinguished flying career remembered

Flight Lieutenant Arthur Maurice Attard (1919-2009) was resident in the Naxxar Holy Family Home for the elderly when I met him in 2008. He told me he had grown up in Sliema and, after attending Flores College, he was taken on by The Times of Malta as a trainee journalist. He had been sent to London and, after World War II broke out, he joined the Royal Air Force. After serving as ground crew he volunteered for flying duties and was selected for the flight engineer role. He trained in Rhodesia (a country which had participated in the Commonwealth Air Training Plan) and was then posted to Bomber Command.

Arthur was a Flight Sergeant on Lancasters with No. 218 Squadron at RAF Chedburgh, Suffolk, when he was awarded the Distinguished Flying Medal. The DFM for non-commissioned officers was equivalent to the Distinguished Flying Cross, which is given for "acts of valour in the air on operations against the enemy".

Bomber Command had 55,000 killed out of a total of 125,000 air crew, which was the highest combat casualty rate of World War II. To go on an "op", return alive and then do it again and again knowing one's diminishing chances required great fortitude. Arthur was one of the lucky survivors.

Arthur continued serving after the war. He was commissioned in the Supply Branch in 1952 and he retired from the RAF in 1969. After returning to Malta he took on accountancy roles in the public and private sectors.

Before meeting him I had been told that Arthur was the "perfect gent". Absolutely so and even at his very senior age, with a twinkle in his eye and a still evident sense of humour.

I feel very privileged to have met this uniquely decorated Maltese airman who well merited his DFM citation as recorded in the London Gazette: Attard, Arthur Morris 795256 Flight Sergeant, No. 218 Sqn; London Gazette 16/11/45. Sorties 27. Flying Hours 155.20. Flight Engineer. AIR2/9137.

"Flight Sergeant Attard has completed 27 operational sorties in his first tour of operations in Bomber Command. Among the many heavily defended targets which he has attacked are Dortmund, Gelsenkirchen (3), Cologne, Duisburg and Kiel. As a flight engineer, Flight Sergeant Attard is outstanding. Throughout his tour of operations, he has maintained a notable standard of reliability and skill which has many times contributed to the successes achieved by his crew. He has at all times shown himself to be a most keen and courageous flight engineer while his unfailing devotion to duty has been most praiseworthy. The squadron is very proud of its brother in arms from Malta. I wish to recommend that the splendid example of reliability and initiative displayed by Flight Sergeant Attard be recognised by a non-immediate award of the Distinguished Flying Medal." May 17, 1945.

Remarks by Station Commander: "By his outstanding qualities of courage, skill and devotion to duty in his tour of operations in Bomber Command, Flight Sergeant Attard has worthily upheld the epic traditions of his homeland. He has set a splendid example to his squadron".

I strongly support his Squadron Commander's citation.

(The author is a retired squadron leader.)