Three Second World War veterans with a combined age of 300 years have taken off in Spitfire planes above Kent. The trio boarded the aircraft on Thursday morning from Biggin Hill, with family and fellow veterans watching as they departed.
Veterans from three regiments
The ex-servicemen came from the King’s Royal Rifle Corps, the South Staffordshire Regiment and the Highland Light Infantry. Their journeys were paid for by a charity run by black cab drivers that organises activities for ex-military personnel.
Ivan Staines, 99, of the South Staffordshire Regiment, was photographed wearing his medals as he played with his great-grandson Alfie Rose, five, in the hangar. Mr Staines served in the Home Guard from 1942 to 1944, when he was called up to fight in mainland Europe aged 18. He was later transferred to the South Staffordshire Regiment and deployed to Palestine.
Fulfilling a wish
Alfred Cooley, 100, signed up to the Highland Light Infantry’s 5th Battalion the day before D-Day. After eight weeks’ training, aged 18, he landed in a liberated France and travelled towards the German border through Belgium and the Netherlands.
In a statement through organisers, his daughter Ann Crossley said: “Today is the day my wonderful dad gets to fulfil his wish to fly in a Spitfire courtesy of the Taxi Charity For Military Veterans. We are so grateful for all the things they have done for dad, the places he has seen and the camaraderie he has experienced. He has so many new friends in this fantastic ‘family’ and is loving every minute of it.”
Surviving brothers
Paul Terry, 101, of the King’s Royal Rifle Corps, was one of three brothers who all survived the war. He landed in Normandy the day after D-Day and travelled through France, Belgium and Holland. Mr Terry fought in operation Market Garden to secure Nijmegen Bridge and then moved on to Arnhem.
