THE story of a heroic Ringwood pilot and a key figure behind the iconic Dambusters Raid has been brought to light for the first time.

Historian Simon Gooch this week releases Group Captain John ‘Joe’ Collier, DSO, DFC and Bar: The Authorised Biography of the Bomber Commander, Air War and SOE Strategist and Dambuster Planner, published by Pen and Sword Books.

John served for 22 years in the RAF, before retiring to Ringwood where he lived until his death in 2000 at the age of 84.

When the Second World War broke out he was already a pilot and after three years of flying he was promoted to squadron commander at the very young age of 25. He was later hand-picked to join the Air Ministry to work with the Directorate of Bomber Operations in 1943.

It was in this role that John played an integral role in bomber operations including the infamous Dambusters Raid.

“He just contributed an amazing amount for such a young man, not just through personal heroics but by affecting the course of the war in many ways through his intellectual input,” said Simon. The story of the group captain was brought to light when genealogist Simon was researching the history of the Collier family. Simon actually knew John, who originally hailed from Plymouth, for some years before writing the book and says he was modest about his RAF career.

As he explains: “He was extremely modest about his achievements in the war and a lot of it was a complete surprise to me as I discovered his background. He was very much a power behind the scenes taking the most important decisions that included attempts to stop German V-weapons – doodlebugs and rockets – that the directorate knew were heading for London.”

He completed 63 sorties and was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross twice as well as the DSO. On leaving the RAF he was a Group Captain.

As Simon explains one of his great initiatives was inventing a technique of dropping sea mines from a great height rather than from lower levels, which meant pilots and crew were vulnerable to being shot down.

Simon added: “For somebody that had a very important role in a big drama of war you feel the history has to be in the public realm rather than just in the family.”

The book is now available and can be ordered at pen-and-sword.co.uk or in book stores.