A former RAF pilot who had an illustrious flying career is about to celebrate his 100th birthday in Sidmouth.

Alexander Fraser will reach his century on Wednesday, May 29, and is having a party with friends and family at the Belmont Hotel a few days beforehand, on May 25.

Mr Fraser was one of the RAF’s many heroes during WWII. He flew 36 missions over Germany in Lancaster bombers – six more missions than the number that should have completed his crew’s tour of duty.

In later years he flew planes for senior politicians and members of the royal family.

Alexander Fraser was born in Sandbanks, Kinross on 29th May 1924, the second youngest of six children. When he was 10 years old his mother died, followed by his father within the same year, so he was brought up by his elder sisters and brother. 

On leaving school he was apprenticed to a local carpenter, and then joined the RAF at the age of 18. He completed his initial training at Donibristle in Fife, followed by his air engineering training at RAF St Athan in Wales, and then joined 630 Lancaster Bomber Squadron stationed at East Kirby in Lincolnshire. 

Sidmouth Herald: Alex sitting astride no.1 engine on a Lancaster Bomber with his crew

His first mission was to Koenigsberg, Germany with over 10 hours flying at very high altitude to conserve fuel. His aircraft was badly shot up losing all communication systems, part of the tail and leaking fuel. He and his crew managed to fly home on just two of the four engines with no major injuries. 

The average life expectancy of Lancaster crews was only five missions, but this crew completed their target of 30, which should have ended their tour of duty. But the squadron had lost a quarter of their aircraft and crews within just a week, so it was decided that Alex’s crew would have to undertake a further six missions.

Alex recalled that during these flights the temperature in the aircraft would drop to minus 40 degrees, so the crew wore their pyjamas under their uniform in an attempt to keep warm.

After the war he married his sweetheart Jean who hailed from Dunfermline, and they had two sons, Brian and Ian. Further air engineering training was completed in Lossiemouth and Belfast before they finally settled in Wooton Bassett (now Royal Wooton Bassett).

Alex served in the RAF for 40 years, always in a flying role, and worked in different aircraft types including Halifax, Shackleton, Comet, VC10 and Hercules. In 1951 he was awarded the King’s Commendation for Valuable Service in the Air in the New Year’s Honours List. In 1971 he was again awarded a Commendation for Valuable Service in the Air – this time by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.

During his career he has piloted planes for the former Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher and many members of the royal family, including Prince Charles and Princess Diana returning from their honeymoon.

After retiring from the RAF Alex settled in Sidmouth and became an active member of the 630 Squadron Reunions, both in the UK and abroad. He also spent many years helping his friends and neighbours to maintain and service their cars, using his engineering skills. He volunteered for the Marie Curie charity shop in Sidmouth and supported other local charities, as well as the local RAF Aircrew Association.