A well-known member of the Tamworth community, Mr Dengate, 89, passed away on Thursday.

As a young man, Frank trained at the Tamworth Aero Club as a pilot.

He was training to become a carpenter with his father when he was called up to join the air force and received his wings at Point Cook.

He left Melbourne on the New Amsterdam on his 21st birthday ? December 5, 1941 ? bound for England via the US.

Mr Dengate flew with the Royal Air Force in 15 Squadron, flying Lancaster bombers, and began operational flying in December 1943, bombing over Germany and France.

He was later awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for his military service and later returned to Tamworth to work for the family's Dengate Joinery.

In 2003, Mr Dengate was named Tamworth City Council's Citizen of the Year.

He was an active member of the Rotary Club of Tamworth for 43 years, Legacy for 42 years and the Peel Masonic Lodge for 60 years.

He was awarded the Long Service Award for Legacy in 1998, a certificate for his contribution to the Australian effort in World War II, and was recognised in the early 1990s for his 50 years of service to Freemasonry.

Mr Dengate is survived by his wife, Margaret, and children John and Shauna, Judy and Peter, Robyn and Peter, Keri and Dudley, Trish and Rod and Heather and Andrew, as well as 15 grandchildren.