WORLD WAR veteran Ken Jenkinson - who survived more than 40 missions with bomber command - has died aged 91.

Mr Jenkinson was a wireless operator air gunner whose colourful service history included him crash landing in Russia with a Tallboy bomb onboard and him living to tell the tale.

Mr Jenkinson, who was born in Calverley but lived in Shelf most of his life working as a bricklayer after the war until he retired, had been on a bid to sink the German battleship Tirpitz when his Lancaster bomber ran out of fuel and was forced to make the dramatic landing near Yeganof.

His son Ian, 69, who lives in Wood Lane, Swain House, said the wreckage is still there and he one day hopes to visit the site to see it for himself.

"Coming home on just three engines wasn't anything new for dad, but apparently they ran out of fuel on this occasion and had to crash land. They were stuck in Russian for a few weeks but were well-fed by the locals until they got out," he said.

The Russian adventure was just one of many stories his father told him, including tales of the six trips he made to Berlin and back dodging anti-aircraft defences and how he survived the infamous Nuremberg Raid which saw the Royal Air Force lose 100 of its aircraft on horrific night.

He also served under Leonard Cheshire when he joined the 617 Squadron after its dambusting missions.

One particular episode that Mr Jenkinson never forgot was when an ear problem meant he had to stand down from his duties and could not join his colleagues on a raid over Bergen in Norway. His place was taken by a young Canadian who along with the rest of the crew never returned. They were shot down over the sea and gunned to death in the water.

Mr Jenkinson, who has kept his father's photographs and flight logbook, said despite his eventful service record, his father would never let himself be described as a hero.

"Dad used to say all the heroes were the dead ones but he is my dad and he is my hero," he added.

Even in civvy street, Mr Jenkinson senior still kept up his interest in flight and enjoyed visiting air shows.

He was devastated when his wife Audrey of 65 years died two years ago and his health began to deteriorate. A bad fall led to pneumonia and he died in Bradford Royal Infirmary on Tuesday.

Martin Whitcombe, a former RAF serviceman and friend of Mr Jenkinson, paid his own tribute and said the war veteran had an incredible service history.

"He was a humble man who would never look for any recognition. To survive the period of war years he did when the losses were so horrific is just mind blowing. It is incredible to think what he lived through."