THE fascinating story of how a former Wisbech cinema projectionist won the Military Medal for helping to steal Hitler’s radar will be told next week in the Tower Ballroom at Wisbech Institute.

Flt Lt Charlie Cox volunteered to take part in the daring parachute raid on Bruneval in 1942 - and had only moments to steal the vital parts of the Wursburg German radar, which was superior to anything the allies had.

When Charlie first joined the RAF he was a radar technician, but was later summoned to the Air Ministry and asked to volunteer for the dangerous mission which required parachute training. After the war, Charlie ran an electrical show in Little Church Street, Wisbech.

Jon Baker, the curator of the Airborne Forces Museum at Duxford, will tell the story of the Bruneval Raid on Friday November 16 from 7pm, in a talk called “Stealing Hitler’s Radar.”

Charlie’s citation read: “This NCO volunteered to carry out a hazardous task in the parachute raid on Bruneval on the night of February 27th – 28th 1942. The success of the operation on the technical side depended on the performance of the duty allotted to him. After being dropped by parachute, he had only a few minutes to complete a task which had previously been estimated to require half an hour and during this time he was continuously under enemy fire. He displayed great courage, skill and devotion to duty in completing his task in spite of the difficulties, thereby contributing greatly to the successful execution of the raid.”

Tickets cost �5 for Friends of the Institute, and �8 for guests, available from Etcetera in Wisbech, or contact John Smith on 07776322129 or johnshappening@gmail.com