NEARLY half a century of studying one of the most famous raids of the Second World War has resulted in a Dorchester man publishing his first book.

Since the 1960s Peter Lush has taken a keen interest in Operation Chariot, which saw the British forces destroy the enemy-occupied port of St Nazaire in March 1942.

He has led battlefield tours of the dockyard and has visited St Nazaire every year since 1982.

His book, Winged Chariot, Mr Lush draws on all that experience as he tells the story of the lesser celebrated role of the RAF ion the raid.

Carrying out a diversionary raid in difficult conditions, the RAF's contribution has widely been seen as one of the less successful elements of the operation but Mr Lush says it actually played a vital role.

He said: "Everything has focused on the Commandos and the Navy and nothing is written about the RAF side because it's reckoned to be a failure.

"When I started researching it I found there was a bigger story than a lot of people think."

Mr Lush said that, as well as the diversionary raid, the RAF was also involved in a lot of other elements of the operation such as reconnaissance and patrolling the Bay of Biscay before the raid to deter U-boats and afterwards to pick up survivors.

In total nine RAF crewman lost their lives, including two who were involved in a collision.

Through his research Mr Lush was able to get the names of these crewmen added to the war memorial at St Nazaire, which he described as a "result" for their families.

The book, which has a foreword by Air Chief Marshal Sir Patrick Hine, has been published in time for the 75th anniversary of the raid next year and a special book signing event is being held at Waterstones in Dorchester next week.

Mr Lush will be at the South Street book shop from 7pm on Wednesday, October 5.