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BIRTHDAY GONG
RAF D-Day hero celebrates 102nd birthday with news he’ll receive major award for wartime bravery
Speaking from his home near Dudley, West Midlands, John said: 'It’s a nice little birthday present'
A D-DAY hero celebrates his 102nd birthday today — with the news he is to receive a French Legion d’Honneur medal.
RAF Flight Sergeant John Haddock heard nothing after applying for the award ten months ago and supporters feared it had been lost.
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But The Sun chased it down and, hours later, the dad of two received the good news from the UK Ministry of Defence.
Speaking from his home near Dudley, West Midlands, John said: “It’s a nice little birthday present.
“I wasn’t getting too excited about it because nothing ever seemed to happen.
“But now it has, it’s very nice.”
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On D-Day John patrolled the Channel in a twin-engine Bristol Beaufighter to sink Nazi fast attack craft, sitting on his helmet to protect himself from enemy fire.
Prince William saluted his bravery during 80th anniversary commemorations in June.
Speaking in Portsmouth the Prince of Wales said he was "deeply honoured to recognise the bravery of all of those like John Haddock who participated in the D-Day landings, the start of the liberation of France and Europe, that led to victory of the Allied Powers”.
John, who has been helped to live independently by the charity Blind Veterans UK, planned to celebrate his birthday with son John, 67, and daughter Barbara, 62.
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More than 5,000 veterans of the 1944 Normandy landings have received Legion d’Honneur medals since being made available to applicants in 2014.
Up to 100 are thought to be still unclaimed.
Atmosphere in Normandy for D-Day celebrations where first house was liberated in France
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