A PRESTATYN RAF man and first time skier was lucky to make it back home after braving the winter in Norway.

Senior Aircraftman (SAC) Jared Dore joined 50 RAF reservists from across the UK to follow in the footsteps of famous wartime raiders who stopped the Nazi atomic bomb programme and learn winter survival skills - only to narrowly make a flight back to Manchester after cancellations due to heavy snowfall.

In civilian life, 47-year-old joined SAC Dore is an account manager for medical technology company Beckton Dickinson, working in Flight Operations for the RAF in his spare time.

SAC Dore said: “I am loving it here. It’s right out of my comfort zone. I like being stretched and learning new skills and meeting new people."

In pursuit of adding more strings to their bows, the reservists took part in Exercise Wintermarch, learning Nordic skiing, how to survive an avalanche and how to deal with extreme cold from members of the Norwegian military.

SAC Dore, who serves with Number 611 Squadron based at Woodvale near Liverpool, added: “One of the reasons I joined the RAF Reserves was the camaraderie - and you really see that here. If someone falls over, someone helps you up. Everyone has got each other’s back.”

Joining SAC Dore on the expedition was fellow Denbighshire reservist, Llandegla's SAC Allan Dillon who works as a support technician for the RAF.

The airmen were based at Rjukan, 100 miles north of the capital Oslo. The town is also the site of the wartime Telemark Raid which saw saboteurs dropped by the RAF destroy a factory making vital parts for the Nazi effort to build an atomic bomb.

For Norwegians the Telemark Raid holds a similar place as the Battle of Britain does here and represents their own finest hour.

The students learned more about the operation with a talk from a close friend of one of the saboteurs and a visit to the museum built on the site of the raid.

The skills used by the saboteurs in cross-country skiing and winter survival are the same as those taught by the Norwegian instructors.

Participants finished the gruelling week with a cross-country skiing race.

However, there ordeal wasn't quite over yet - after leaving behind thick snow in Norway, they were lucky to get home after heavy snowfall causing many flights to be cancelled.

The officer leading the expedition, Flight Lieutenant Rosie Gilmore said:As the RAF celebrates its 100th year, it’s fitting that we’ve been here where the RAF has long and friendly relations and it’s been great to be here strengthening those bonds between the RAF and Norway.”