Stranded veterans taken to memorial event thanks to Royal Navy Merlin crews

A pair of D-Day veterans became stranded on their way to France to attend the 80th memorial event in Normandy - but help was at hand in the shape of the Royal Navy.

Merlins from 845 Naval Air Squadron flew Czech veterans Charles Strasser and Jirí Pavel Kafka from the Channel Islands when the pair became stuck in Jersey.

Lieutenant Commander Bob Powell, the aircraft commander of Navy 751, said: "We owe their generation so much and it not only meant so much to us to be a part of it, but also to our friends and colleagues who have thanked us since then for doing it.

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"It was an entire team effort by the eight aircrew involved as well as the support provided by our two higher headquarters to get permissions quickly in place," Lt Cdr Powell said.

"It was an absolute honour to be able to support the veterans get to Normandy for the 80th anniversary of D-Day and to be a part of the international commemorations.

"As a Junglie, it was an incredibly rewarding, albeit unexpected, sortie to be involved in."

The two Second World War veterans were due to attend the international commemorations at Omaha Beach.

Mr Strasser served as a dispatch rider with the Czech Independent Armoured Brigade which went on to liberate his homeland in 1945.

Fellow veteran Mr Kafka, aged 100, was rescued from occupied Czechoslovakia and later served as a radio operator and gunner with the Royal Air Force.

While travelling to Normandy, a minor technical issue meant the veterans' civilian aircraft was unable to complete the journey.

Fortunately, two Merlin helicopters belonging to Navy 750 and 751 of the Commando Helicopter Force, were stationed only a few miles away.

The question posed was: "Could you take our VIPs to Caen for us to get them there in time for their commemoration event at Omaha Beach?"

Lt Cdr Powell said: "Our thinking was 'can we do it? Yes – and morally we must do'."

The efforts of both Merlin crews, including Lieutenant Commander Edwin Adams and Lieutenant Charlie George ensured that the two war heroes joined their comrades in France for the 80th D-Day memorial.