27 February 2013 Last updated at 14:21 ET

'About time' Bomber Command war veterans honoured

Mr Zolty completed 34 Bomber Command missions

A 90-year-old war veteran says it is "about time" he received a medal nearly 70 years after he served in Bomber Command in World War II.

Peter Zolty, from Solihull in the West Midlands, took part in raids over Germany in 1944 in which more than 50,000 men lost their lives.

On Monday, the government confirmed the veterans will be recognised for their bravery with a new medal and award.

He blamed a "collective sense of guilt" after the war for the delay.

Bomber Command

Unit formed in 1936. During the war it was tasked with attacking Germany's airbases, troops, shipping and industry.
A total of 55,573 of its airmen died in World War II. Their average age was about 22
The first "thousand-bomber raid" was in May 1942, three months after Arthur "Bomber" Harris was made commander in chief
The famous Dambusters raid of May 1943 struck at dams surrounding the Ruhr Valley

Source: BBC History

He said: "I think it was was about time and I can't really say any more than that really.

"I think it was a collective sense of guilt after the war and to my mind, not Churchill, it was the Attlee government."

During the war Bomber Command was tasked with attacking Germany's airbases, troops, shipping and industry.

Veterans who served on Arctic convoys will also receive medals as part of the announcement by the Ministry of Defence (MoD).

More than 3,000 men died in the Arctic as they kept supplies flowing through German blockades to Britain's ally, the Soviet Union, in Operation Dervish.

It is thought about 250,000 men survived both missions - though many have since died.

Speaking in Parliament on Wednesday, Prime Minister David Cameron said he welcomed the awards, saying they should be issued as soon as possible.

Mr Zolty said he completed 34 missions on board a Lancaster bomber as a navigator.

"My main purpose was to get us to the target area, on time and on course and more importantly get us home again.

"I just sort of felt...nothing could harm us.

"It was an attitude of mind."

The MoD said it had agreed on a design for the new Arctic Star medal and Bomber Command clasp and they could be sent out by next month

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