TRIBUTES have been paid to a former RAF bomber pilot shot down pilot over Germany, who has died aged 89.

Ken Knott, from Marcham, passed away after a heart attack last Wednesday.

Friends called him a lovely man, who was devoted to his family, but was reluctant to talk about his wartime experiences.

Mary Gibson, a friend of the family, said: “He was a darling.”

Mr Knott attended Manchester Central High School for Boys, where he was a member of the Air Defence Cadet Corps.

After leaving school in 1938, he became a draughtsman, but volunteered for the RAF in 1940 and was sent to the US for pilot training.

After 10 missions with 103 Squadron, he was posted to No 166 Squadron at RAF Kirmington, near Grimsby, to fly Lancaster bombers over Germany. On his third operation with the unit in 1943, his plane was shot down over Hanover.

Mr Knott’s life was saved by the flight engineer, who passed him a parachute before the aircraft exploded.

Four crew members, including the engineer, who did not have time to put on his own parachute, were killed.

After a night of hiding barefoot, German troops captured Mr Knott and he was sent to Stalag Luft 6 at Hyderkrug, which is now in Lithuania. He remained a prisoner until the end of the war.

His friend Reg Barnard, from Wallingford, later flew with Mr Knott in the RAF, but said he never spoke about his wartime experiences. He added: “He was a charming gentleman. But he would never talk about his previous life to me.”

Mr Barnard’s wife Enid added: “He was such a lovely man. He had a great sense of humour, liked a laugh and enjoyed a drink, and he was just a super guy.”

Following the war, Mr Knott stayed with the RAF, completing a flying instructor course. He served as Adjutant to the Oxford University Air Squadron for a time and in 1958 returned to Germany to train pilots in the West German Air Force.

Tiz Evers was based in Germany with Mr Knott and his family. She said: “Ken was just a gentle kind man, quiet, and very kind.

“We were there from 1958 until 1963 and although we lost touch briefly, we were friends ever since.”

Mr Knott was married to Betty and had three daughters, Julia, Sarah, Lindsey, a son, Jonathan, and five grandchildren. He continued flying with the RAF until his retirement in 1976. His final posting was as the commanding officer of No 6 Air Experience Flight, based at RAF Abingdon.

After his retirement he became the volunteer commanding officer of the Oxfordshire, Bucks and Berks Wing of the Air Training Corps.

He was also an area organiser for Save the Children, and chairman of the RAF Bomber Command Association’s Oxfordshire branch.

His funeral takes place today at 2pm, in All Saints Church, Marcham.