Arlene Foster leads tributes after death of NI Second World War hero Bill Eames

Bill Eames from Enniskillen, Co Fermanagh served as a RAF pilot and was involved in the securing of Pegasus Bridge in 1944, D-Day among many other missions.

He received several medals of honour and was mentioned in dispatches for courageous flying.

Years later in 2019, he received the British Empire Medal for his services to the Royal Air Forces Association and community work in Co Fermanagh.

Arlene Foster said she was “deeply saddened” to hear of the death of her “dear friend”.

“We honour his service during WW2 & his quiet dignity,” she tweeted.

“Badly injured by anti-aircraft fire, he helped bring the bomber home I will miss his quiet support.”

Flight Lieutenant Eames joined the RAF in 1941. One of his first mission was dropping supplies to French Resistance operators during the Nazi occupation.

In a previous interview, Mr Eames said he had not felt “particularly frightened” during the D-Day operation, but added they had not “realise the significance” of what they were doing at that time.

He was injured in September 1944 during Operation Market Garden, a mission to secure the Rhine crossing at Arnhem.

However he recovered and returned to active flying duty with the 196 Squadron, flying Shorts Stirlings, which included taking part in the surrender of German forces in Norway.

After the war ended, he worked as an Air Traffic Controller with the Ministry of Civil Aviation, based initially at Nutts Corner and later at Aldergrove.