Edward Sismore Air Commodore Edward Barnes Sismore ( 23 June 1921 – 22 March 2012 ) was a British air navigator during World War II and a fighter pilot and a senior Royal Air Force officer in the post - war years and the thirteenth Commandant Royal Observer Corps between 1971 and 1973 . During his time as Commandant ROC , Sismore travelled overseas to France , Germany and Scandinavian countries , visiting similar defence warning organisations . He established a close relationship with the " Luftmeldekorpsett " Danish Air Reporting Corps , a unit of the country ' s Home Guard . Military career . World War II . Sismore started his service as an airman in the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve ( RAFVR ) . However , on 29 August 1942 Flight Sergeant Sismore was given an emergency commission as a General Duties Branch Pilot Officer in the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve . Towards the end of the war , on 1 February 1945 , he was awarded a permanent commission as a Flying Officer . In February 1944 Sismore was involved in the planning of Operation Jericho but was prevented from flying with Air Chief Marshal Basil Embry because of their knowledge of the plans . Operation Jericho was a low - level bombing raid on Amiens Prison in German - occupied France . The object of the raid was to free French Resistance and political prisoners who were facing imminent execution . He also participated in the successful raid in late October 1944 against the Gestapo HQ in Århus , Denmark as navigator to Reynolds . Notably in March 1945 , whilst serving on No . 140 Wing , Sismore , by then an acting Squadron Leader took part in Operation Carthage , a precision raid on the Gestapo headquarters in Copenhagen Denmark . Sismore was the lead navigator in the Mosquito Mk . VI flown by the raid leader ( Group Captain Robert Bateson ) . The raid , while not being completely successful with a large number of civilian casualties , succeeded in destroying the Gestapo HQ allowing some prisoners to escape . Sismore was awarded a bar to his DFC and was also honoured with the Danish Order of Dannebrog , Degree of Knight . Post - war . Sismore remained in the RAF after the war , qualifying as a fighter pilot and occupying several senior officer posts . In 1947 Squadron Leader Sismore and former Dambuster pilot , Squadron Leader ' Mick ' Martin , broke the London to Cape Town flying record , covering the 6 , 717 miles in only 21 hours and 31 minutes . They were subsequently awarded the Royal Aero Club ' s Britannia Trophy for 1947 . From 1953 / 56 He commanded 29 Fighter Squadron . Sismore was promoted to Group Captain in 1962 and during the early / mid 1960s , he served as the Station Commander of RAF Bruggen in Germany . In the late 1960s he was the Senior Air Staff Officer of the RAF ' s Central Reconnaissance Establishment at RAF Brampton . Royal Observer Corps . On 4 January 1971 on promotion to Air Commodore , Sismore was appointed as Commandant of the Royal Observer Corps taking over from Air Commodore D F Rixson . His final post was as the Director of the Air Defence Team , planning a new UK air defence environment system . On 24 May 1973 Sismore handed command of the ROC to Air Commodore R K Orrock . He retired from the Royal Air Force on 23 June 1976 . Honours and awards . " On 30 January 1943 , two forces of bombers were detailed to attack Berlin , to prevent a radio brodacast by Goering . To reach the German capital necessitated a flight of more than 500 miles , mostly over heavily defended territory . < br > This was following the attack on the Zeiss works at Jena which was his deepest low level daylight penetration of the war with Wing Commander Reynolds . " As pilot and navigator respectively these officers have taken part in numerous sorties against a wide variety of targets . In October , 1944 , they took part in a most successful attack on a vital German target . In this well executed operation , these officers displayed skill and resolution of the highest standard . " " " Acting Squadron Leader Edward Barnes SISMORE , D . S . O . , D . F . C . , ( 130208 ) , R . A . F . V . R . In March , 1945 , Squadron Leader Sismore was the navigator in the leading aircraft of a large formation detailed to attack the Gestapo headquarters at Copenhagen . The operation , necessitating a flight of more than 1 , 000 miles demanded the highest standard of navigational ability . In this direction , Squadron Leader Sismore ' s work was outstanding and contributed materially to the success obtained . Again , in April , 1945 , this officer flew with great distinction in an attack against a similar target at Odense . This officer , who completed much operational flying , has rendered very valuable service " " . Death . Sismore died on 22 March 2012 and was survived by his son and daughter .