A top Second World War German pilot has been invited to visit the Yorkshire Air Museum - to the anger of one of its members.

Hauptmann Heinz Rokker, described as the most successful night fighter ace left alive in the world, is to speak at the museum at Elvington, near York, next month.

He will appear alongside Flight Sergeant Eric Sanderson, whose plane was shot down by Hauptmann Rokker over Hanover in March 1944, and who spent the rest of the war as a prisoner of war.

Paul Crawshaw, of Radlyn Oval, Harrogate, a member of the museum, said he thought the invitation was insensitive to the families of those who died as a result of Rokker's actions.

Mr Crawshaw, who said he was not old enough to be a veteran, said: "I believe for a memorial to the dead of the allied air forces to invite this individual is a disgrace.

"He apparently shot down 64 British bombers, probably 300 or 400 RAF fliers are dead because of his actions. They have had German pilots before, but mainly they fought in Russia.

"They should be ashamed of themselves for inviting him to Yorkshire. I, for one, although an aircraft enthusiast would not dream of going to the museum for this unwelcome visit."

David Tappin said the lecture by Herr Rokker would be one of an ongoing programme of talks.

He said the German pilot and Mr Sanderson had been good friends since the 1970s.

"The guys who were doing the fighting don't have a problem with it. They're quite happy to forgive and forget As far as they're concerned they were doing a job for their air forces. They have got total respect for each other and they know they didn't have a choice.

"This is reconciliation."

Mr Tappin said Hauptmann Rokker was one of the Luftwaffe's deadliest marksmen. When the war ended, he had destroyed 64 RAF heavy bombers, including six Lancasters in a spell of 33 minutes on February 21, 1945.

He was awarded the Knights Cross with Oak Leaves for outstanding bravery in the defence of Germany by Adolf Hitler.

Mr Tappin said: "Fifty five years later, in his 80th year, he is the most successful night fighter ace left alive in the world."

Flight Sergeant Eric Sanderson, now 77, took off from Burn airfield, near Selby, in his Handley Page Halifax Bomber, the night it was hit by cannon fire from Rokker's night fighter.

* For further information about the event, contact the information hotline number on 01423 887313. Admission to the lecture is by ticket only, priced at £10 each. The ticket information line is 01904 608719.