First Minister expresses sadness over death of WW2 veteran

By Rebecca Black, PA

Northern Ireland’s First Minister has led tributes to one of the region’s last Second World War veterans who has died at the age of 97.

Bill Eames from Enniskillen, Co Fermanagh served as a RAF pilot and was involved in the securing of Pegasus Bridge in 1944, D-Day among many other missions.

He received several medals of honour and was mentioned in dispatches for courageous flying.

Years later in 2019, he received the British Empire Medal for his services to the Royal Air Forces Association and community work in Co Fermanagh.

Arlene Foster said she was “deeply saddened” to hear of the death of her “dear friend”.

“We honour his service during WW2 & his quiet dignity,” she tweeted.

“Badly injured by anti-aircraft fire, he helped bring the bomber home I will miss his quiet support.”

US Consul General Elizabeth Kennedy Trudeau also paid tribute.

“It was a profound honour for the US Consulate to have known Flight Lieutenant Bill Eames,” she said.

“On many occasions when we formally commemorated our shared history during World War II, Bill Eames was rightly acknowledged as a true inspiration to us all.

“On behalf of the US Consulate staff, we join many from across Northern Ireland and further afield in expressing our heartfelt condolences to his family.

“His heroism at the forefront of allied efforts in World War II will never be forgotten.”

Flight Lieutenant Eames joined the RAF in 1941. One of his first mission was dropping supplies to French Resistance operators during the Nazi occupation.

In a previous interview, Mr Eames said he had not felt “particularly frightened” during the D-Day operation, but added they had not “realise the significance” of what they were doing at that time.

He was injured in September 1944 during Operation Market Garden, a mission to secure the Rhine crossing at Arnhem.

However he recovered and returned to active flying duty with the 196 Squadron, flying Shorts Stirlings, which included taking part in the surrender of German forces in Norway.

After the war ended, he worked as an Air Traffic Controller with the Ministry of Civil Aviation, based initially at Nutts Corner and later at Aldergrove.