The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
Perthshire war heroes honoured
Veterans: Highest decoration
France has bestowed its highest military honour on two Second World War veterans in Perthshire.
Donald MacIntosh and David Flint were presented with the Legion d’Honneur at a ceremony at the Royal British Legion Scotland in Crieff.
The National Order of the Legion of Honour was established by Napoleon Bonaparte in 1802 and is the highest decoration in France.
The ceremony yesterday afternoon was attended by friends, family and wellwishers.
Glasgow-born Mr MacIntosh, 94, joined the police force as a cadet in Clydebank. He was on patrol when bombs fell on the town, claiming 600 lives.
Mr MacIntosh led a six-man team of the Bomber Commander IX Squad, flying Lancaster Bombers on 41 missions.
One of his raids was on Hitler’s home in Berchtesgadan, razing it to the ground. But the Fuhrer had moved out before the operation.
Mr MacIntosh was awarded a Distinguished Flying Cross for his role in the sinking of the formidable German battleship, the Tirpitz.
Mr Flint, 97, began his wartime career with the Royal Corps of Signals in 1939, stationed in Eaglesham near Glasgow.
In 1941, he was made lieutenant and was posted to the third division.
He landed on the D-Day beaches on June 6 1944, coming ashore from a landing craft tank near Hermanville and fighting his way through France, Holland, Belgium and Germany for more than a year.
The French government announced in 2014 it would honour all surviving Allied servicemen who fought to liberate the country with the Legion d’Honneur.
More than 3,000 applications are being processed.
One of his raids was on Hitler’s home ... razing it to the ground. But the Fuhrer had moved out before the operation