I WAS interested to read John Hunt's account of the fight for a medal recognising the military campaign at Suez, and pleased that he and his comrades have at last been rewarded for their efforts, even if it did take 50 years.

Most of your readers will be unaware of a similar injustice in respect of the aircrew members of Bomber Command in the aftermath of World War II.

The only raid that seems to be deemed worthy of mention, apart from the famous Dambusters venture, is the tragic raid which devastated Dresden. For the record Air Chief Marshall Sir Arthur Harris was not in favour of that particular operation, but was overruled by Sir Winston Churchill.

I would remind your readers that Bomber Command was probably the only branch of the armed forces to engage the enemy by day or night, almost without a break from September 4, 1939 (the day after war broke out) until VE Day, 1945.

During that period the command lost 55,000 aircrew (about the same number of casualties as America suffered in total in Vietnam).

What few people know these days is that Air Chief Marshall Harris requested a campaign medal for those who served with Bomber Command.

His request was rejected out of hand and summarily dismissed on each subsequent occasion when the subject was resurrected.

This is a sad reflection of our society when one sees footballers, pop idols and their ilk showered with honours when they already receive awards in the form of huge sums of money far in excess of their worth.

MPs and assorted members of the Establishment who, so readily pay lip service to the efficiency and professionalism of 'the lads in the armed forces' when it suits them are quick to forget.

They may sometimes wonder why the respect they deem due to them is not forthcoming; the explanation is simple -- they just do not deserve it.

T H Blythen, Yarrow Road, Chorley