Bogus Dambusters 'hero' is exposed as a fantasist - by own daughter

But Eric Jephcott's claims that he clambered into the cockpit of a wartime Spitfire on the 65th anniversary of the famous raid have been shot down in flames by his own daughter who said her father was a "fantasist and a fool".

And he even enthralled shadow Tory Finance Minister Angela Burns, at the Welsh Assembly, with his stories of derring-do as the tail gunner on the Lancaster flown by Guy Gibson.

Eric Jephcott claimed that he was a dambuster but his daughter has exposed him as a fraud

Wing Commander Gibson, who was awarded the Victorian Cross, was killed in action in 1944 - he was 26.

An impressed Ms Burns said, "Meeting Mr Jephcott brought home the true significance of the Spitfire." 

Sporting a RAF unfiform, Eric, now 84, told how he flew 38 missions over Germany and was shot down twice.

He told Ms Burns, "If anyone said they weren't frightened they were total bloody liars.

"It was sheer relief that it was all over, I just wanted a cigarette and a good cup of tea." 

He criticised the film of the operation as "three minutes of fact, the rest is hearsay." 

And he explained: "I lost a lot of good friends and that's why I never go to reunions, it brings back too many bad memories." 

But his daughter has come forward to say he spent the war as a gardener - labelling him a fantasist and saying he had never flown in his life.

"He is a sad old fool," Heather Randell said yesterday.

"My dad is a fantasist and a complete fraud. I believe in honesty and I don't like the idea of the way it looks on the family.

"Anybody could come up with a yarn like that but it is a desecration to the men who did the mission and those who died.

Mr Jephcott, (back) pictured with a spitfire, had fooled Tory MP Angela Burns with his colourful story

"'I don't think he even picked up a gun - unless it was at the fairground." 

Eric was celebrated as a hero when he suddenly turned up to join a welcome party for a Spitfire as it landed in Pembrokeshire, west Wales, to be restored at a cost of £600,000.

He lined up with dignitaries for photographs and explained all about the Dambusters raid.

Ms Burns said afterwards, "This is rather a sad tale but I was taken in by Mr Jephcott.

"The welcoming of the Spitfire was an important day and it's a pity that his actions may overshadow the true heroes who flew during the war." 

Peter Kraus, fundraising director of the Pembrokeshire Spitfire Aeroplane Company, who was pictured with Eric, said "I honestly thought he was who he said he was.

"It is the lowest of the low to pretend you are someone you're not.

"We were going to send him a thank you letter for taking part in the picture."

Mr Jephcott could not explain why his name didn't appear on any 617 squadron flight list or why his daughter was questioning his claims.

A Lancaster PA474 of the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight flies over Derwent dam in the Peak District last week, marking the 65th anniversary of the Dambusters raid