Dr Herbert (Bert) Osborn DFC
It is with great sadness that we report the death of Bert Osborn on Thursday 10th November 2016.
Bert served as a navigator in 455 Squadron Royal Australian Air Force, and was stationed at Langham in 1944. From here he flew Beaufighters, with his pilot Flying Officer Lloyd Farr, on 25 perilous operations against enemy shipping off the Dutch, German and Norwegian coasts. On one near fateful operation, Bert and Lloyd were severely shot up by enemy flak and their plane lost all hydraulic power and compass. Bert was wounded but had the presence of mind to extinguish the fire on board and then proceed to navigate home to Langham, where Lloyd Farr exercised a perfect belly landing with no further injury to either of them. Bert was subsequently awarded the DFC.
In July 2014 we were honoured that he agreed to assist us with the Opening of the Dome as a visitor attraction.
Visitors to the Dome who have watched our films will be familiar with Bert, who talks very eloquently on one of them about what it was like at Langham in those hectic days and how he feltshort sharp busts of fear as he went into attack.
Earlier this year, Bert was awarded the Legion d ’Honour by the French Consul.
