A BADGE awarded to an airman who jumped from a stricken plane during the Second World War was stolen from his 91-year-old wife – the day before VE day.

Police say a golden caterpillar pin with ruby eyes was stolen during a sneak-on burglary at the home of the elderly woman in Great Smeaton, near Northallerton.

Caterpillar pins are issued to members of the Armed Forces or civilians who have successfully used a parachute to bail out of a disabled plane in order to save their lives. It is believed the pin that was stolen had belonged to the husband of the resident and was awarded after he jumped to save his life from an aircraft in World War Two.

The pin is believed to have been stolen sometime between 12pm and 3pm on Thursday, May 7 – the day before the 70th anniversary of VE Day. Some cash was also stolen.

People receive gold or silver lapel pins and a membership certificate to the Caterpillar Club, an informal association, after authentication by the parachute-maker.

The Caterpillar Club was formed in 1922 and refers to the silk threads that made the original parachutes. Membership is given to anyone who has saved his or her life by using one to bail out of a disabled aircraft.

Anyone with information about the theft, or who saw anything suspicious at the time of the incident, is asked to ring North Yorkshire Police on 101.