Three WWII veterans fulfil their dreams with unforgettable Spitfire flights

Three WWII veterans took to the skies in Spitfires on Thursday 13 August, fulfilling a lifelong dream thanks to the Taxi Charity for Military Veterans.

Ivan Staines, Paul Terry and Alf Cooley had the extraordinary opportunity to take to the skies in an iconic Spitfire, with each veteran flying in a separate aircraft operated by Fly A Spitfire at Biggin Hill Heritage Hangar.

The flights were financed by the Taxi Charity for Military Veterans from a dedicated fund established to make the wishes of WWII veterans come true.

For Alf Cooley, the flight was particularly special as it fulfilled a long-held wish. His daughter, Ann Crossley, said: “Today is the day my wonderful Dad gets to fulfil his wish to fly in a Spitfire courtesy of the Taxi Charity for Military Veterans. We are so grateful for all the things they have done for Dad, the places he has seen and the camaraderie he has experienced. He has so many new friends in this fantastic ‘family’ and is loving every minute of it.”

After the flight Paul Terry said: “It was remarkably smooth, though to be honest, not quite as fast as I thought. I reckon my BMW could give it a run for its money. Jokes aside, it was an incredible experience. From watching the dogfights rage over London as a teenager, to spending the war as a rifleman with my feet planted firmly on terra firma, finally getting up into the sky in a Spitfire brought everything full circle.”

Landing after his flight, Ivan Staines shared: “An amazing experience that I never expected to get. I am absolutely over the moon.”

Alf Cooley who is fanatical about Spitfires said: “I was absolutely blown away. The experience was something I will remember for the rest of my life. I never thought that one day I would be flying in my favourite plane... the spitfire.”

The Taxi Charity supports veterans from all conflicts, arranging trips to the Netherlands and France for acts of commemoration, as well as days out to museums, concerts and social events across the UK. Where possible, the charity also seeks to create once-in-a-lifetime experiences for veterans and make their wishes come true.

Keely Allen, Trustee and Fundraising Officer for the Taxi Charity, said: “Seeing Paul, Alf and Ivan take to the skies in three Spitfires has been an incredibly moving and proud moment for everyone involved. These iconic aircraft played such an important part in the story of their generation, so to see them flying in one is something very special.

“We are hugely grateful to everyone who has helped make these flights possible. But we don’t want these three veterans to be the last. In September, four of our volunteers will be joining me to take on the Thames Bridges Trek, with the aim of raising enough money to give another WWII veteran the opportunity to experience the unforgettable thrill of flying in a Spitfire. We hope people will get behind us and help us make another veteran’s dream come true.”

To donate to our Thames Bridges Trek justgiving page, please visit: www.justgiving.com/campaign/help-the-taxi-charity-to-put-another-veteran-in-a-spitfire

Photo: Ivan Staines, Paul Terry and Alf Cooley at Biggin Hill Heritage Hangar

Picture credit: Dean Euesden