Come fly with me – former RAF engineer’s wish comes true
A retired RAF engineer from Wolverhampton has had his dream of returning to the cockpit made a reality.
The team at Care UK’s Foxland Grange, on Wergs Road in Tettenhall, surprised resident David Barnes with a visit to RAF Cosford to see the planes he worked on up close once again.
After finding out about David’s career as an engineer and his desire to see aircrafts from more than 40 years ago, the care home team members worked closely with volunteers from RAF Museum Midlands to make his wish come true.
During the visit, David was treated to a tour of the jet collection, sharing stories from his past and proudly showing the team old photos of himself in uniform.
Commenting on the experience, 88-year-old David said: “The exhilaration of seeing planes again took me right back to my RAF days – I thoroughly enjoyed it. I was able to analyse some of the planes and see the different parts used that are much more advanced than the parts in my day.
“I was honoured to see a plane fly over me in my working days, knowing I had played a part in engineering the safety for the troops – the memories came flooding back. Foxland Grange has done me a great service in taking me to RAF Cosford, and I am very grateful for the time and effort put into the trip.”
David joined the air force at the age of 16 and served for 24 years. Although he spent 20 months flight training, he was never able to fly due to being colour blind.
However, this did not stop David from pursuing his passion for aviation; instead,, he joined the logistics team, where he was responsible for testing and organising all aircraft fuel.
Over the course of his successful career, David was stationed in London, then the Outer Hebrides off the west coast of Scotland and later Fontainebleau in France, where he worked for Nato.
He progressed rapidly through the ranks, achieving corporal status and leading several teams. In 1976, he left the air force to relocate to West Sussex.
Katy Anderson, Home Manager at Foxland Grange, said: “We encourage residents to lead fulfilling lives, whether that comes from helping in the garden or flying down memory lane like David.
“As a veteran, the museum created a nostalgic experience for David. He loved touring the different types of aircraft and sharing stories from his fascinating past with the RAF. Everyone at the museum was impressed by his knowledge as he discussed the jets on display.
“We were thrilled to be able to help him fulfil his dream of seeing the planes once again. It was a joy to see the smile on his face as he held his cherished photo of himself in uniform.
“We look forward to making more wishes come true for the residents at Foxland Grange.”
David’s wish comes soon after Foxland Grange was awarded Veteran Friendly Framework status for its commitment to supporting the armed forces community. In achieving this, the home was required to meet eight standards, including noting armed forces status within care plans, addressing social isolation and signposting to support services such as the local Royal British Legion branch and other charities that provide help for veterans and their partners.
