A WARTIME airman has been posthumously honoured in recognition of his contribution to Second World War.

Reg Eastwick flew 56 sorties as a rear air gunner in Halifax and Lancaster bombers between 1943 and 1945.

This was almost double the normal tour of duty of 30 missions, which in itself had survival odds of three to one against.

When Mr Eastwick died in September, aged 82, his former employers at the Rygor Group, where since his retirement he had worked part-time collating statistical information, decided to present his family with a painting to commemorate his RAF service.

Company bosses got three of Mr Eastwick's RAF colleagues to sign the limited edition print, which was given to his widow Jenny on Thursday. The painting, by artist Philip West, is embossed with Mr Eastwick's Distinguished Flying Cross and depicts two Halifax bombers preparing for take-off on a bitterly cold day.

Mrs Eastwick said: "The painting will take pride of place in the living room. We are really pleased with it, it's a very nice tribute."

Rygor Group chairman Ted Rygor said: "We are pleased to have done this to recognise what Reg did for us."

Rygor group service manager Alan Mullen, who organised the tribute, said: "I was very proud to do this. He was a modest man, well loved by everyone and will be greatly missed."

From October 1944 to April 1945 Flt Lt Eastwick served with 158 Squadron, based at Lissett in Yorkshire, keeping a meticulous logbook of his time.