Legion aid mission for RAF hero Ron

When thieves broke into the home of Bomber Command veteran Ron Brown and stole his mobility scooter last year it left the 93-year-old devastated.

After suffering a slight stroke and heart attack, the vehicle had become a lifeline for the pensioner - who flew a total of 64 RAF missions behind enemy lines during the Second World War.

But now the Berry Hill resident is upwardly mobile again, after the Royal British Legion came to his rescue with the offer of a replacement vehicle.

Ron, of Gordon Brae, was grounded when thieves stole the metallic blue scooter from his garage on November 18th, revealed exclusively in Chad.

But despite a police appeal the £2,000 vehicle, provided by the Legion, has not been recovered and the charity has now offered to replace it.

Ron said: “I have been a very active member of the Royal British Legion for many years and have made countless very good friends throughout this time. Now I can truly offer my sincere appreciation and gratitude to the Legion - they are an absolutely wonderful organisation.”

Ron was a co-pilot in Lancaster and Stirling bombers and flew two tours of duty during the war. On his second tour, Ron was supposed to fly 34 missions, but on the 30th his aircraft was hit over Cologne and had to make a crash landing in Suffolk.

Speaking about the theft, Ron said: “I go for an early-morning swim and I came downstairs and found the garage door open and the scooter missing. Stealing something like this is really heartless because they would have known it was for a disabled person.

“I just found it so useful to get around and get my shopping and it just seems so unfair when they come and take something like this away.”

Anyone with information on the theft should call police on 101 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.