WE owe so much to those who served our country in its hour of need and Barrow was lucky to see one of its heroes return home.

In 1994, the Mail heard the story of Reginald (Reg) Park who made it back from war when so many did not.

The retired headmaster served with Royal Air Force and his actions earned him the prestigious Distinguished Flying Cross.

Anxious German Sailors strained their eyes and ears toward the distant drone of engines.

Louder and louder the sounds grew as 78 RAF Coastal Command fighters bore down on the waiting mini armada of enemy merchant ships.

Tracer rounds were everywhere.

Unseen machine gun fire whistled past and through fuselages.

It was September 1944 and Squadron Leader Derek Hammond was leading an airborne assault on the Dutch Coast at a place called Den Helder Harbour.

Alongside him was a young Barrow man named Reg Park. Just 20 years old at the time.

He was the acting navigator in what was to be one of the war's biggest air-strikes against German shipping.

That day, now 86 years ago, Reg's bravery in action led to him being awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross, as well as a promotion to the rank of flight lieutenant.

Four years before this, Reg was just a Barrow Grammar School pupil.

His final year of study in 1940 was overshadowed by one Allied military disaster after another.

Recall those days, Reg said: "There was certainly no incentive to lay long term plans for the future as a German invasion of Britain seemed inevitable, and the country prepared to fight its very existence.

"Everywhere the pervading atmosphere was of the Dunkirk spirit and the aim of every youngster was to don the uniform."

At 17 in 1941, he signed up for the flying squad. The same year the war took on a more personal nature when his brother was killed in action.

In 1944, he joined the 489 Royal New Zealand squad.

His tour saw him fly on 36 operations before the war ended and he returned to his native Barrow.