Wallace McIntosh, 87; British gunner downed 8 German planes in WWII

Wallace McIntosh, 87, widely believed to be the British air force’s most decorated gunner in World War II, died Monday of lung cancer at Aberdeen Royal Infirmary in his native Scotland, the Royal Air Force said.

McIntosh flew 55 sorties as a rear gunner and is believed to hold the record for most enemy kills.

His greatest achievement came during the D-day invasion, when McIntosh was credited with downing three German fighter planes during a single mission aboard his Lancaster bomber on June 7, 1944.

He flew between February 1943 and June 1944, and military records show that he retired with a record of eight kills and one “probable” during bombing raids across Europe.

Air crews operated in some of the most hazardous conditions of World War II. About 1,000 men from McIntosh’s squadron died.

McIntosh was born in a barn near Tarves, Scotland, and was raised by his grandparents. After the war, he worked in agriculture, eventually managing a company.