As millions paid their respects to the nation’s war dead today, a gentle shower of 750,000 poppies fell over the famous White Cliffs of Dover.
They were dropped from a battle-scarred Second World War Dakota plane, which carried five veterans, including RAF servicemen who served in the Second World War, to oversee the poppy drop.
Second World War veteran Warrant Officer Roy Briggs was one of those who went up in the Dakota today. He served as a wireless operator on Lancaster aircraft with 576 squadron, conducting raids at Plauen and Bremen.
The 94-year-old great-grandfather said he spent the flight thinking of a Lancaster crew he knew, who all lost their lives during a wartime mission.
He said: ‘I am 94 and they are still 20 and 21. They will never be anything else to me.’ World War Two veterans George Prichard (left) and Roy Briggs following their flight in a World War II Dakota
Mr Briggs said the flight on Sunday was something of a surprise and was revealed to him just a few days before.
He added: ‘I couldn’t really believe at 94 I was getting involved in something like this.’ Flight Lieutenant George Prichard, 96, said the Dakota flight was ‘wonderful’.
He said: ‘It was a great, great day and I was thrilled to be part of the event.
‘Something I had never expected I would be doing. Something I shall remember for a very, very long time.’
During the Second World War, Mr Prichard was posted from Tech Signals Radar (Air) Branch to 151 Night Fighter Squadron on Mosquitos.
There he supported action on D-Day and across Europe throughout the Normandy campaign by maintaining crucial radar equipment used on the aircraft.
The vintage Dakota aircraft still has 40 bullet holes in its fuselage dating back to the battles of the Second World War, including a spot near the cockpit where a shell passed clean through both sides of the plane.
Also aboard the Dakota was Royal Engineer Stephen Craddock, who joined the army aged 17 and was posted to Germany, Denmark, Kenya and France.
He served multiple tours of Northern Ireland during the Troubles, patrolling some of the most dangerous areas of the country.
He left the army in 1990, but said everything came crashing down when his brother died in tragic circumstances.
He said: ‘The box inside my head which I had kept firmly locked for so many years opened and all those memories from my time in Northern Ireland came flooding back.
‘I was having nightmares, night sweats and reliving in full HD the sounds, sights and smells from some of the worst atrocities committed by the terrorists during the troubles.
I was diagnosed with PTSD and was in a terrible mental state.’ The event was the brainchild of Kent-based Aero Legends, with proceeds going to the annual Poppy Appeal.
Aero Legends managing director Ben Perkins said: ‘Commemorations like this are incredibly important to remember those who fought and continue to fight for our freedom.’
(Source: Basit Mahmood, Metro- 10/11/2019)
https://metro.co.uk/2019/11/10/world-war-ii-planes-drop-750000-poppies-white-cliffs-dover-11075862/
