WWII 'Guinea Pig' Ace Dies At 94

One of the last surviving members of the 'Guinea Pig Club' has died from cancer.

Dr Sandy Saunders was one a group of World War Two pilots who underwent pioneering, untested plastic surgery. The 94-year-old passed away on Sunday.

He had been badly burnt in an RAF crash in 1945. 

Last year Prince Philip, who has been the Guinea Pig Club's president since the early 1960s, unveiled a memorial to them at the National Memorial Arboretum. Forces News' Tim Cooper spoke to Sandy at the unveiling...

Just last month he took to the skies in a WWII plane, in his last ever flight.

Dressed in flying jacket, scarf and goggles, he returned to the air in a Tiger Moth, the same type of plane in which he crashed during a training flight in 1945.

After getting on board the plane he told the BBC:

"It just brings it all back. I wish I were young again."

The Guinea Pig Club was formed in 1941. It was comprised of badly wounded and burned men, many of whom fought in the Battle Of Britain.    They were being treated at the Queen Victoria Hospital in East Grinstead, by pioneering surgeon Sir Archibald McIndoe and his team.

It comes on a day of sad news for the RAF.

It's also been announced that Lawrence Nicholson has died at 92.

The pilot, who earned the Distinguished Flying Medal, took part in 57 dangerous bombing raids.

He joined the RAF at 16 and starting flying in 1944 - and once returned from a raid with 100 bullet holes in his aircraft.

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