Tributes have been paid to a Bermuda war hero who devoted his retirement to exploring the Sea Venture wreck.

Flight Lieutenant Allan ‘Smokey’ Wingood — whose funeral was held on Thursday after he died at the age of 88 — flew 30 operations over Nazi Germany during the Second World War.

The air ace admitted he was “amazed” he survived a conflict which saw his bravery in bombing raids over war-torn Europe honoured with the Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC).

But Mr. Wingood’s extraordinary life story did not end there.

The war veteran then wrote himself into the pages of Bermuda history in the 1980s when his deep sea investigations confirmed that a wreck discovered some 20 years earlier was the Sea Venture, whose sinking in 1609 began the settlement of the Island.

Born in Bermuda, Mr. Wingood attended Saltus Grammar School before leaving for England in 1940 to train with the Royal Air Force.

He got his wings in 1941 and married Peggy, born in Birmingham, England, the following year.

The couple managed to squeeze in a one week honeymoon, of sorts, amid the uncertainty and stresses of war, before Mr. Wingood started his first of 30 operations over Europe.

He flew a Vickers Wellington bomber, and his flying skills returned him back to base safely on one mission despite being ‘coned’ in enemy searchlights for 20 minutes.

On another raid his communications equipment failed leaving him unaware what was happening back at base.

Unsure whether other planes had been recalled and he was the only pilot over the German target — up to 800 aircraft often took part in such lightning raids — Mr. Wingood carried on calmly yet courageously and completed the mission.

There had been no recall — but it was that display of bravery that saw him decorated with the DFC.

Speaking from her home in Devonshire yesterday, Mrs. Wingood fondly recalled the ceremony at Buckingham Palace when King George VI presented the medals to hundreds of servicemen.

The couple’s nine-month-old daughter, Katherine, accompanied them and was carried to the Palace in a wicker basket — giving the waiting press photographers a heartwarming picture they just couldn’t resist. It later appeared on several front pages.

After a short spell in North Africa, Mr. Wingood returned to Bermuda in 1946.

He worked for Pan Am Airways for 13 years before moving into the marine contracting business, servicing an underwater ocean research tower for the US Navy.

In 1978 the keen diver and student of Bermuda history secured a licence to head an investigation into the wreck discovered in 1959, although yet to be officially confirmed as the sunken Sea Venture.

After Mr. Wingood uncovered a host of rare treasure from the site, an archaeology expert was drafted in and he confirmed the finds dated back to the 16th and 17th Centuries — and that the wreck was the remains of the historic vessel.

In 1989, the war hero was awarded the Queen’s Certificate and Badge of Honour for his dedicated work on the Sea Venture.

Remembering her husband and 64 years of happy marriage, Mrs. Wingood added yesterday: “Allan was quiet and affectionate and straight as a die.

“He was perfect.”

Mr. Wingood leaves three children, six grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.

His funeral service was held at Holy Trinity Church, Hamilton Parish, on Thursday afternoon.