Ex-RAF man, 85, returning to sky

2011-03-13 15:51:26

13 March 2011 Last updated at 19:23 Share this page Delicious Digg Facebook reddit StumbleUpon Twitter Email Print Ex-RAF man, 85, returning to sky in Pembrokeshire Des Thomas (centre) during WWII and, right, after his flight from Haverfordwest Continue reading the main story Related Stories WWII heroes memorial to go ahead Bomber Command: Still fighting

A former RAF flight engineer who flew with Bomber Command in World War II has returned to the sky after fighting back from serious illness.

Among the challenges Des Thomas from Tenby has overcome is learning to walk again on two artificial legs.

Thanks to a Pembrokeshire charity, the 85-year-old was airborne again in a Bulldog plane at Haverfordwest.

Mr Thomas said the flight was a "wonderful experience" and he "enjoyed every second of it".

His son Lyn said since recovering from illness his father had dreamed of flying again.

Continue reading the main story “Start Quote

Someone like Des should be recognised for all he has done during his very active life and it gives me a huge delight to help”

End Quote Peter Kraus Over The Rainbow Dream Come True

The flight was arranged as a surprise and he had only known about it in the past few days.

Mr Thomas was a teenager during WWII when he was involved in raids on Berlin and Nuremberg and completing 33 operations with 460 Squadron RAAF.

A second tour with 358 Squadron RAF saw him complete another 16 operations over what was then Malaya, Siam and French Indochina.

He was just 20 when the war ended. He then served in Tenby Fire Brigade for 30 years and was station officer for a large part of that time.

Des Thomas was 20 when the war ended

More recently due to illness he lost both legs and following two cases of septicaemia and one of MRSA spent around seven months in hospital.

Sunday's flight was arranged by the Pembrokeshire-based Over The Rainbow Dream Come True charity, which has organised over 400 flights since it started in 1999.

Founder Peter Kraus said: "Someone like Des should be recognised for all he has done during his very active life and it gives me a huge delight to help."

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