Sir Archibald McIndoe, the New Zealand plastic surgeon who pioneered innovative operating and treatment methods for RAF pilots during World War Two, died in England on 11 April 1960, aged 59.

To mark the day, here are three newspaper stories from the Archive that report on McIndoe’s life and brilliant work.

And we shudder at the thought of these skin graft operations performed with a razor blade!

Derby Daily Telegraph – Monday 29 May 1944

Image © Northcliffe Media Limited. Image created courtesy of THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD.

http://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000521/19440529/040/0005

Dundee Courier – Friday 16 January 1948

Image © D.C.Thomson & Co. Ltd. Image created courtesy of THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD.

http://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000564/19480116/025/0002

Aberdeen Journal – Friday 05 January 1945

Image © THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

http://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000578/19450105/025/0002