Now a Flying Officer in the R.A.F.V.R this young winner of the D.F.C. must be one of the biggest men in the air. At the age of 24 he scales 19 stone and is 6 ft. 5¾in. tall. Before the war he was making much headway as a heavyweight boxer and was a popular figure in all the local rings, being well-known also at Leicester and other large centres.

He joined the Air Force as a physical training instructor in June 1940, but soon developed the urge to fly, and after training for navigation did his first tour of operations as a Flight Sergeant. Commissioned in February, 1944, he has now taken part in about 70 bombing raids

Just before Christmas he carried out the flight which earned him his decoration. His plane failed to return to England, and he was reported missing until it was that found that the gallant crew had managed to crash-land their crippled and burning "kite" among Canadians this side of the Rhine.

The citation states that in December, 1944, whilst approaching Oberhausen, his aircraft was hit by anti-aircraft fire. Severe damage was inflicted. One engine burst inflames and burnt furiously for some considerable time. Flying Officer-Pantling rose admirably to the emergency and was largely responsible for the aircraft reaching safety in friendly territory, where a forced landing was made.

F/O Richard William Leon Pantling is the only son of Mr. and Mrs. W. J. Pantling, 87, Highfield-road, Rushden, and three years ago he married Miss Kathleen Wright of Irchester. He attended the Newton-road and Intermediate Schools.