AN APPEAL fund which supports Second World War veterans and their families has been pushed over the £10,000 mark for the first time, thanks to a North Yorkshire flight sergeant.

Dougie Lee, an air traffic controller at RAF Linton-on-Ouse, near York, produced a series of first-day covers, helping to boost the coffers of the Harrogate Royal Air Force Association's (RAFA's) Wings Appeal.

The specially-designed envelopes bear newly-issued postage stamps, postmarked on the first day the stamps were on sale.

Flight Sergeant Lee hit upon the idea of designing them a couple of years ago and has since produced a collectable series by convincing names such as Tony Blair and Geoff Hoon to sign his covers.

His latest cover is number four in the series, and is extra special because it has been flown in a Spitfire, Tucano and Tornado F3 aircraft.

His next cover will commemorate the 60th anniversary of the end of the war in Europe by depicting the last remaining Halifax bomber, which is kept at the Yorkshire Air Museum, at Elvington.

The idea is especially poignant, because his home airfield at RAF Linton was the last Halifax base in Yorkshire to remain operational.

"The Elvington Halifax is painted in the famous 'Friday the 13th colours' and that is how it will appear on the cover," said Dougie. "To make it even more special we will fly it and date stamp it on Friday May 13th next year as part of that month's celebrations."

Harrogate RAFA chairman Brian Wilkie said: "Dougie's charity work over the years has been outstanding, and we are very grateful that the Wings Appeal has benefited from his tireless efforts."

The Wings Appeal runs throughout the year with a focal point in September to commemorate the Battle of Britain, which marked a crucial turning point in the war.

The RAFA is working to support an ageing wartime generation, and annually receives thousands of requests for help and welfare support from serving and ex-RAF servicemen and women, and their dependants.

Updated: 10:22 Thursday, October 28, 2004