Sir, The excellent television documentary on Yesterday Who betrayed the bomber boys was repeated four times on May 20.

The impact was rather spoiled by the advertising material, in my opinion, but this could not be avoided. I understand that this was written, directed and produced on behalf of Bomber Command Association (BCA) executive staff involved, as a matter of priority, in raising the £7.25m of public funds needed to pay for the memorial costs in Green Park opened by HM the Queen on June 28, 2012.

But, although many BC survivors and their next of kin supported the memorial they also thought that BC deserved the personal award of a campaign medal, which can only be awarded by Government, as officially requested of the post-war Labour Government, by our old C-in-C, ACM Sir Arthur Harris: and this has so far been denied.

Similar documentaries and books advocating a BC campaign medal, together with British and Hollywood cinema films about BC and POWs, for the obvious enjoyment of members of the public, have also created a generally favourable case in the eyes of the public for the provision of a personal campaign medal.

The award finally made on Decembr 19, 2012, by our present Prime Minister for a mean and insignificant clasp attachment to their existing 1939/45 Star, but to BC aircrew only, cannot, it is said, be altered. May one ask “Why not?”as the 70th anniversary of D-Day approaches on June 6? The efforts and sacrifice of BC then had rightly been regarded as an essential pre-requisite before that invasion could take place: and subsequently as being invaluable to gain victory in Europe on VE Day on May 8, 1945.

Wg Cdr A J Wright DFC RAF (Ret)

Abingdon