Hero Shrewsbury pilot who still flies at 96 nominated for Brave Britons award

Johnnie Trotman, 96, from Shrewsbury, is the second oldest pilot to be flying in the UK, piloting a Cessna four-seater from Sleap Airfield in Shropshire.

Over the years since he's been given the Legion d'Honneur from the French Government for services to France and has written a book about his war years, J For Johnnie.

Now Johnnie has been put forward for another accolade – reaching the final of the Amplifon Awards for Brave Britons.

The Flight Lieutenant's first wartime tour of 30 operations was in Wellington bombers with 150 Squadron based at RAF Snaith in Yorkshire. He took part in bombing raids on many heavily-defended German cities.

In September 1942, his crew was returning from an operational flight to bomb Bremen when the their aircraft crash landed in Yorkshire on the return to the UK due to fuel shortage.

Johnnie survived and went on to do a second tour of 40 operations in the Mosquitos of 692 Squadron, based at RAF Graveley near Cambridge, part of the elite Pathfinder Force.

He clocked up more than 2,000 flying hours and walked away from three crashes. He later worked for cleaning appliance company Hoover for 32 years in the United States and Europe.

He said: “I still fly with an instructor but I look after everything. He is there in case of an emergency. I fly about once a month weather permitting.”

Set up in honour of Amplifon’s founder, Second World War hero Major Charles Holland, the Awards for Brave Britons recognise courage and achievement in the categories of Outstanding Military Bravery

Giuseppe Manzo, general manager for Amplifon UK & Eire, said: “We received some fantastic entries in the Outstanding Military Bravery category and the four finalists truly embody the heroism shown by Charles Holland.”

The winners will be announced at a ceremony at the Army and Navy Club in London on October 17.