A SECOND World War veteran and Yorkshire Air Museum volunteer has died aged 92.

Ralph Tailford, was a former flight engineer with No. 77 Squadron of the Royal Air Force and was based at RAF Station, Elvington near York between October 1942 and May 1944.

Mr Tailford, who lived in Huddersfield in West Yorkshire, completed more than 70 missions from the Elvington base as a flight engineer on a Halifax bomber and in his later years he would drive through on weekends to volunteer at the air museum which now occupies much of the former base.

The museum's former operations manager and Mr Tailford's friend, Ian Dewar, said: "He often recalled with some pride, the role of the Halifax and the men who flew them. Both he claimed were often overshadowed by the more successful and popular Lancaster, which shot into the limelight through daring raids like those of the Dambusters and against the Tirpitz.

"He was a proud and popular member of the 77 Squadron Association and honorary member of the Air Gunners Association. During his time at the Elvington museum, nothing gave him greater pleasure than showing people around the replica of the Halifax that resides there.

"Ralph will be sorely missed amongst his many friends and former colleagues, among them the volunteer stewards."