A WAR hero who flew 34 bombing missions during the Second World War and was awarded the Distinguished Flying Medal has died at the age of 87.

Former Royal Air Force sergeant, Robert Kenneth O’Brien, known as Ken, was awarded the medal in 1945 for shooting down an enemy ME262 jet which attacked his Lancaster bomber.

Ken was born in York, the eldest of eight children. He was married to his late wife Ruth and leaves a son, Kevin, and grandson Robbie.

He joined the RAF at 18, and after the war he worked on the railway for a time before becoming a heating engineer, and later worked for Portakabin .

A keen golfer and member of Heworth Golf Club since the 1950s, Ken was forced to stop playing in later life due to a trapped nerve.

He presented the club with a trophy in his name and remained an honorary social member for the rest of his life. Instead he took up bowls, representing Yorkshire in the sport.

“Any sport he turned his hand to he seemed to succeed at,” said Kevin.

In June, Ken travelled to London to see the Queen unveil a £6m memorial to the 55,573 airmen of Bomber Command who died during the Second World War at a special ceremony.

“It was very nice and long overdue,” said Kevin. “Dad was the last of his crew to be alive for it. It was a shame he was the only one who could represent them. It was an important day for him.”

Ken died in York Hospital on Monday. A funeral service will be held at York Crematorium on Wednesday, at 3pm. Donations may be given to the Bomber Command Memorial.