Wartime foes will meet in the spirit of friendship later this month when York plays host to a gathering of air aces. But the decision to invite two of Germany's top wartime fighter pilots to the gathering at Elvington's Yorkshire Air Museum has come under fire from an RAF veteran.

The guests at the event on March 13 include the most successful living fighter pilot, Generalleutnant Gunther Rall, 80, who won 275 aerial combats on both the Eastern and Western Fronts in the Second World War, before becoming Chief of Staff of the post-war Luftwaffe and a senior NATO figure.

He will accompany Oberleutnant Walter Schuck, the world's third-ranked living ace with 206 aerial victories, who will be the main speaker.

From the Allied side will be former USAAF fighter ace Colonel James Gordon, and Wing Commander Joseph Kayll, DSO DFC, who flew RAF Hurricanes in the Battles of Britain and France.

But the presence of the Germans was attacked by Fred Whitfield, 78, of South Shields, a decorated Lancaster rear gunner who took part in the successful 1944 raid on the battleship Tirpitz, which Oberleutnant Schuck was helping to defend.

"I lost too many friends and I am not too keen on this sort of thing. I just don't see why people like that should be invited over here," he said.

The museum's lecture and special events co-ordinator, David Tappin, said it had received telephone calls objecting to the former Luftwaffe pilots coming to Elvington.

But Mr Tappin believed there had been slightly more calls supporting their invitation. He pointed out General Rall had spent more years working alongside the RAF in NATO than he had fighting the British.

"I think we should learn by the mistakes of the past; it promotes international understanding. We are extremely happy to have them here.

"They are figures of historical importance. They are the most successful fighter pilots of any generation since aviation began."General Rall and Wing Commander Kayll fought on different sides in the West, before the latter was shot down and captured, later becoming the escape officer who devised the famous "Wooden Horse" breakout from prison camp Stalag Luft III. Oberleutnant Schuck was in continuous action during the war, including battles over the Polar Sea region on the Eastern Front.

Admission to the 7.30pm lecture is by ticket only, costing £10, with further details on the ticket hotline 01423-887313.

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