A SECOND World War veteran has been put back in contact with his old squadron - thanks to a story in the Evening Press.

George Lumley-Holmes, of Haxby, York, read our story on August 16 about the donation of Flight Sergeant Fred Capes' war medals to a museum in West Wales by Fred's family.

George was a member of No. 228 Squadron, the same one as Fred, and was as a wireless operator.

George, 80, of The Avenue, said of the article: "I thought it was quite fascinating. But I couldn't understand why I'd never been invited along to any of the reunions."

George believes that he must have met Fred in the mess at some point, although there were so many people that he could not remember him specifically. He said that people were known by their nicknames rather than their real names, so he would not have known him as Fred.

However, George did know the pilot of Fred's plane, which was shot down by a German U-Boat while operating out of RAF Pembroke Dock in West Wales on May 24, 1943. After reading the article, George got out his own log book and found that he had been out on an operation on May 29, only five days after Fred's Sunderland flying-boat was shot down.

George has been in contact with Fred's brother, Terry Capes, and the pair are hoping to meet up soon for a coffee and a chat about No. 228 Squadron.

George said: "I am very much looking forward to meeting Terry." Terry has already passed on information to George about other retired members of the squadron so that he can write to them.

In return, George hopes to tell Terry about life at RAF Pembroke Dock and the people who fought alongside Fred.

"It was very pleasing that the article should let George get in touch," said Terry.

Updated: 08:19 Friday, August 23, 2002