A Second World War veteran who took part in 50 missions has died aged 93.

Flight Lieutenant Geoffrey King, who lived in Bocking for more than 30 years, joined the RAF in 1940 as a flight mechanic and moved to aircrew in 1941.

He was commissioned a pilot officer in 1943 as a bomb aimer in a Lancaster Bomber.

His squadron was made up of navigator “Curly” Davis, skipper George Laing, wireless operator Vince Day, flight engineer “Jock” Burns, mid-gunner “Flash” Green and rear-gunner “Tommy” Thomas.

The team, 57 Squadron, undertook its first mission on September 23, flying from RAF East Kirkby, Lincolnshire, on a 600-bomber raid on Mannheim, in Germany.

The squadron undertook 30 missions, flying to places such as Leipzig, Frankfurt and Essen, before signing up for their second tour, this time undertaking 20 missions.