RAF veteran celebrates 103rd birthday at Airbourne

An RAF veteran has celebrated his 103rd birthday at an air show on Eastbourne seafront.

Jack Hemmings, who is a former RAF squadron leader and a co-founder of humanitarian air operator charity Mission Aviation Fellowship (MAF), was presented with a cake at Airbourne to mark his birthday, which was the week before.

The Horam resident shared his cake with Red Arrows squadron leader Graeme Muscat - who described the veteran as a "flying legend".

Mr Hemmings said he enjoyed the Red Arrows' display and joked that “they put it all on just for my birthday”.

The veteran has continued flying well into his centenary, performing aerobatics on his 100th birthday, as well as flying a spitfire in February to raise money for MAF.

Andy Welham-Jones, from the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight, said: “Veterans are a real inspiration to us all...they are what events like these are all about – and it’s why we do what we do.”

Mr Hemmings also attended the Eastbourne International Airshow for his 102nd birthday - where the Red Arrows performed a surprise smoke flyover above his home during the evening.

The veteran said: “For a moment, I knew how the King must feel.”

Mr Hemmings explained that when he first joined the RAF in 1940 he thought "if I am going to fight in a war, I may as well do it sitting down".

He said: “During wartime, aircrafts were used for destruction; but it has always been my desire that they be used for good."

Airbourne started on Thursday and runs until Sunday.

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