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RAF’s 90th bash goes with a whirl
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| Veterans: a Chinook helicopter landing at the RAF museum in Colindale, watched by Henry Allingham, below |
Veterans and servicemen from the Royal Air Force
dropped in to Colindale on Tuesday to launch the service's 90th anniversary celebrations.
Guest of honour at the RAF museum, in Grahame Park Way, was Henry Allingham, who at the age of 111 is the oldest surviving First World War veteran and a founding member of the RAF.
He spoke with visitors and
new recruits about his memories from the war, when there was
no radio communication and the service relied on pigeons to send
messages.
Chief of the Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal Sir Glenn Torpy paid tribute to Mr Allingham and his service to the RAF.
He said: "He is a fantastic individual and shows all the spirit and determination that I see in the youngsters who are joining the service today."
The event on Tuesday included a fly-by of Tornado bombers and the landing of the Bravo November Chinook helicopter, the only aircraft of six that were deployed at the start of the Falklands conflict in 1982.
Sir Glenn added: "The 90th anniversary is a really significant milestone in our history, and I don't think you could have
chosen a better place to celebrate it than the Hendon museum, which really captures all of our heritage."
Another veteran at the event, Ian Blair, was born in 1918, the year the RAF was formed. He served in the force for 40 years, eventually becoming a squadron leader.
He said: "I like to come to these events because I hope I meet old colleagues, you don't lose your contacts and it keeps the mind active.
"I spent the whole of
my working life in the RAF. I moved around the world
with my family. It was hard
going at times, but it was never a problem.
"I hope the members of the public will remember and will come along to the events."
Celebration events are planned for the coming year and will begin with a commemorative service at St Clement Danes, the central church of the RAF, in Westminster, on Sunday, March 30.
Watch our video of the event, and see more pictures in the gallery.
5:55pm Wednesday 19th March 2008
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CommentPosted by: Jill Babcock (Gray), Ludington, Michigan, USA on 9:56pm Wed 19 Mar 08
Thank you for the story and the pictures of my grandpa. He is quite the gentleman!
Thank you for the story and the pictures of my grandpa. He is quite the gentleman!
Posted by: grateful, watford on 2:56pm Tue 25 Mar 08
Nice to see a positive story in the news for a change. We owe so much to those brave men who fought against all odds to give us the freedom many of us take for granted.
It's a shame so many people forget. and many of our pensioners have to scrimp to pay bills and have become easy targets for criminals!
Nice to see a positive story in the news for a change. We owe so much to those brave men who fought against all odds to give us the freedom many of us take for granted.
It's a shame so many people forget. and many of our pensioners have to scrimp to pay bills and have become easy targets for criminals!
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