World War II Veterans Fly In For Project Propeller

More than 100 Second World War pilots landed at Halfpenny Green Airport, near Wolverhampton for this year's Project Propeller. 

The event has been running for 20 years and was set up to thank and pay tribute to the pilots who flew during the War. 

Veterans arrived at the airport by air, flown in by volunteer pilots from across the country. 

The event organiser, Graham Cowie, said: 

"When a man whose flown over Berlin 20 times in a Mosquito comes to me and says "thank you for all you do for us" and you just think 'you don't get it do you?'

"'You got this all the wrong way round', this is us saying "thank you" to you."

The event provides veterans the chance to unite and share their experiences with one another.

Bernard Ennis flew with 228 Squadron and he was shot down over the Bay of Biscay but survived after landing in water.

He later became a part of the famous 'Goldfish Club'. He said: "I think we were the last aircraft to crash and I think I'm now the last person alive."

Another veteran who attended, was Jon Riggal who was shocked to see the actual plane he once flew for reconnaissance work during the Malayan Campaign.

Mr Riggall said: "The first thing I saw parked outside the hangar was this aircraft and I recognised the tail number immediately.

"This was one of our six aircraft so I flew it on many occassions."  

A flypast of the Battle of Britain Memorial Site's Lancaster bomber sparked memories for many veterans like Russel 'Rusty' Waughman, who said: "The noise appears, a great characteristic noise, it brings back so many memories, its been exceptional.

"It done three flypasts which is nice but it's difficult to imagine we flew those things...it goes back a long time.

"It's a wonderful effort for people like myself, all the veterans, getting all together and it's a little nostalgia...only thing is, I can never remember all their names!"