Veteran Flies Spitfire for First Time Since WWII

Veteran Flies Spitfire for First Time Since WWII | World War Wings Videos

YouTube / BBC South Today

69 Years Apart

Jimmy Taylor, a 91-year-old WWII veteran, last flew a Spitfire seven decades ago. In 1944, Taylor spent three months flying Spitfires for the RAF’s photographic reconnaissance unit until an engine failure caused him to bail out and get captured by the Germans. 

Lucky for him, the people at Goodwood Aerodrome gave him a chance to fly a Spitfire again. As any pilot would, the veteran took part in the preflight briefing before entering the aircraft.

Here’s what he had to say:

“Oh, it’s fantastic. It’s a dream come true, in a way – because the Spitfire’s still an iconic aircraft… It has a special smell about it, and you feel back at home.”

They spent half an hour in the air, with Jimmy even taking over the controls for a while. That’s how you show a veteran a good time.

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