A Bermudian war hero who earned a George Medal in 1943 for his bravery, has died aged 89.Geoffrey Alan Osborn died last week at his home in the United States.Mr Osborn was born in Woolston, England on January 24, 1922. Around age seven he moved to the Island and remained here at the start of the Second World War in 1939.He joined the Bermuda Volunteer Regiment and later learnt to fly at the Bermuda Flying School at Darrell’s Island in 1940.Mr Osborn received his flying wings in September 1941 and two months later served as a bomber pilot with the Royal Air Force. He was involved in numerous raids over occupied Europe and eventually was awarded the George Medal for his courage in rescuing crew members during two air crashes.His eulogy stated that: “During the early years of the war, he was assigned to 51 Squadron, Bomber Command and flew Whitley and Halifax bombers on night missions over occupied Europe.“In 1943, he was awarded the George Medal, the second level decoration of the United Kingdom and Commonwealth, for displaying ‘great gallantry in rescuing members of his crew from burning aircraft’. Subsequently he was transferred to the Atlantic theatre and flew maritime patrols for the remainder of the war.”Mr Osborn was badly burned during his rescue attempts and while recovering met his future wife Beatrice (Bobby), who served in Royal Nursing Crops. The two were married in November 1944.He also leaves behind daughter Wendy Osborn Hollger and son Michael Geoffrey Osborn.More than two decades later the couple returned to the Island and Mr Osborn joined the Department of Civil Aviation at Kindley Field Airport. He later became Director of Civil Aviation and the Permanent Secretary for Transport. He retired in 1985 then moved to Dorset, finally moving to their daughter’s home in Columbia, South Carolina in 2009. In addition to his military achievements, Mr Osborn was an internationally noted stamp collector and wrote books including: ‘Gibraltar: The Postal History’.A memorial service was held for him last Sunday. To sign the online guest book in his honour visit www.dunbarfunerals.com.