A HERO who rescued a man from a burning plane as a teenager has discovered for the first time that the rear gunner almost certainly survived the Second World War.

Last week the Witney Gazette reported the incredible story of Ron Dale, who pulled a 'Sgt Lyon' from the flaming wreckage of a Wellington bomber that crashed in Milton-under-Wychwood in September 1942.

Now, thanks to research by Witney MP Robert Courts, Mr Dale has found out more about the life of the airman.

Mr Courts and his team contacted the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) for more information about 'Sgt Lyon', and managed to track track down a man who is almost certainly the same person.

Retired Lt Col and executive director of the RCAF Association, Dean Black, sent a report to Mr Courts that showed Armstrong 'Doc' Lyon was from Philadelphia in the United States.

He joined the RCAF in June 1941, before the US entered the war, and flew dozens of missions until the end of the conflict, being awarded a Distinguished Flying Cross in February 1945.

The report at one point reads:“He has always shown himself ready to engage the enemy wherever the least opportunity has arisen.

"By his aggressive spirit and by a thorough knowledge of his guns he has engaged and destroyed many enemy night fighters."

Mr Dale, of Thorney Leys, Witney, was thrilled to hear 'Sgt Lyon' almost certainly saw out the war.

He said: “I was really pleased because I didn’t have any idea.

"It was a shock.

“I wish I had done something earlier but I left it too late. He must be an old man now.

"I’m 91, so he would be 98 if he’s still alive.

“But if he is still around I would like to get in touch with him.

“I’m determined to go down to the office of Robert Courts and thank him very much for the research he’s done."

On September 16, 1942, 17-year-old Mr Dale was preparing to leave his family home in Milton-under-Wychwood to go to work.

As he stood in the garden with his mother he saw, overhead, a Wellington bomber suffer a failure in one of its engines.

The plane crashed about a quarter of a mile from where they were stood.

Mr Dale darted to the field where the plane had come down and dragged Sgt Lyon, who was badly burned, out of the plane.

The other four crew members on board were killed and the wreckage exploded moments later.

Mr Courts said: “Mr Dale’s heroism speaks for itself but the effect of his actions is brought vividly to life by knowing that he saved a man who went on to make a superlative contribution to the war."

"It is crucial not only that we remember Mr Lyon – an American who enlisted in the Royal Canadian Air Force to come here to fight for freedom – as a friend who put everything aside to come to help in democracy’s hour of need, but to thank Mr Dale again for giving Mr Lyon his long life.

"I would like to thank the House of Commons library and the Royal Canadian Air Force for their help in uncovering the details of this inspiring story.”

Last week Mr Courts and Witney's mayor Chris Woodward called for recognition of Mr Dale's act of courage.