A WAR hero who shot down a German bomber in York during the Second World War claims that 62 years later, he is still waiting for the medal he was promised.

Henry Hemus, now aged 82, was commended by his senior officers when he brought down the plane in York in December, 1942.

But the great-grandfather said he was still waiting for any recognition for his bravery from Army bosses.

The Ministry of Defence says it cannot find any trace of a citation for Mr Hemus. But the pensioner, who now lives in Birmingham, with Ruth, his wife of 58 years, still believes he is entitled to the Distinguished Service Medal or Military Medal he says he was promised.

"I was on gunner duty at Tang Hall in York that night and I heard the aircraft coming overhead and I knew by the sound they were Germans," said Mr Hemus.

"Some of the craft diverted away, but this one circled round. When it dropped a flare I knew I had to fire at it with my Lewis machine gun. I had not had the orders to do it, but I could not wait, as it had a clear shot...and would have bombed us.

"The next day the officers said well done to me and mentioned that I would be in line for a top medal."

Mr Hemus was featured in the Evening Despatch, the precursor of the Birmingham Evening Mail, which said: "Not many men can boast that they themselves, unaided, have brought down a German plane. Gunner Henry Hemus is entitled to that distinction."

A Ministry of Defence spokesman said they had investigated the query but found no evidence of a citation for Mr Hemus.

Updated: 10:41 Friday, May 21, 2004