WWII veterans take to the skies again from Southend Airport
The four men all served as RAF aircrew in World War II and were taking a day trip to Gloucester Airport to meet up with their wartime colleagues once again as part of Project Propeller. Each year private pilots give their own time and money to fly veterans to wherever the annual reunion is taking place, with the airport involved waiving all take-off and landing fees.
The veterans who took off from Southend were Michael O'Connell from Hockley (a Wireless Operator / Air Gunner, who served on Lancaster’s in the 621 & 38 Squadrons), Leslie West from Shoeburyness (who served with No 48 Far East Air Force flying Wellington bombers and Dakota transports) and Wireless Operator / Air Gunner Bruce Brinson from Benfleet who served on Lancasters in 106 Squadron (Wing Commander Guy Gibson's squadron before he led the famous Dambusters raid with 617 Squadron).
They were joined by Derek Rowe (a Training Command Pilot from Leigh-on-Sea) whose son Dave was one of the two local private pilots taking the veterans to Gloucester, along with Mike Biddulph.
Graham Cowie from Project Propeller said: “The whole event is run on a shoestring with everyone giving their time and effort as a very small way of paying back the people who gave us our freedom – so we are very grateful to London Southend Airport for waiving all their fees and making this possible for these veterans.”
London Southend Airport Operations Director David Lister said: “We are delighted to be involved, it is the least we can do to give a little back to these people who fought for our freedom.”
