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In 1958, Eric Denson was ordered into a nuclear blast in order to conduct an experiment on his plane's radiation readings.
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He was sent home, covered in burns, vomiting, and with an altered personality. For 20 years he suffered with undiagnosable mental illness. The MoD said nothing was wrong with him. /2
Eric had crippling headaches and said he was in a suffocating black cloud. Twice his wife Shirley saved him from suicide. Eric killed himself on the third attempt in 1978, saying he couldn't take it any more.
Shirley raised their 4 daughters alone. /3
Shirley raised their 4 daughters alone. /3
They all became mothers and grandmothers, and today 20% of Eric's descendants have a congenital birth defect - missing and extra teeth, spinal deformities, organ malformation.
His great-grandson is on his 3rd set of teeth. His great-granddaughter has two tubes to one kidney. /4
His great-grandson is on his 3rd set of teeth. His great-granddaughter has two tubes to one kidney. /4
Shirley was refused a war widow's pension. The MoD said it was nothing to do with them.
In 2009, she was sent MoD papers showing Eric was used in an "initial experiment" during Operation Grapple Y. He had 165 years' worth of background radiation to his head in just 6 mins. /5
In 2009, she was sent MoD papers showing Eric was used in an "initial experiment" during Operation Grapple Y. He had 165 years' worth of background radiation to his head in just 6 mins. /5
A dosimeter installed on his seat pan beneath his testicles revealed a dose about half that to his lower body.
She finally won a war pension on appeal, when the MoD was told his death was attributable to his service. /6
She finally won a war pension on appeal, when the MoD was told his death was attributable to his service. /6
Today Shirley is asking for Eric to be given the Elizabeth Cross - a posthumous medal given to those killed in the service of their country. Whatever your opinion of nuclear weapons, Eric was irradiated while doing his job. /7
Shirley told me a medal won't bring Eric back, but it would be a form of justice for her and her family, who may well suffer the genetic legacy of that flight for generations. /8
. @emilythornberry @almurray and Tory grandee Sir John Hayes are all working hard to ensure Eric is treated better in death than he was in life. I hope @johnnymercerUK and @JohnHealey_MP will join forces, and ask the MoD medal office to expedite Shirley's application. /9
She's 86, and she's waited long enough.
Here's the story. Wrongs must be righted. /ends https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/nuclear-hero-nominated-for-medal-22763274
Here's the story. Wrongs must be righted. /ends https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/nuclear-hero-nominated-for-medal-22763274
