Happy Birthday Mr Allingham!

[Smithy]

Britain's oldest man and a WWI veteran of the RNAS and RAF turned 112 today and was honoured with a flypast of the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight amongst other "exciting" activities to spruce up the old boy's big day...

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/7439117.stm

 

[June]

Thanks for this, Smithy. What a terrific sense of humor he has.

 

[Two Gun Bob]

Thanks for pointing this out Smithy...

... and in support of your thread and most of all the remarkable Mr. Allingham, a few photos.

God Save the Queen - and Henry Allingham! Happy Birthday Henry!

Henry Allingham in 1916, in Royal Naval Air Service uniform. The RNAS and the Royal Flying Corps merged later to become the Royal Air Force.

Henry Allingham in 2006.

SE5a's

Sopwith Pup

Sopwith Triplane

The Dastardly Hun!

Biggles sees off the Hun!

 

[H.Johnson]

World's Oldest Man

Mr. Henry Allingham is now officially the oldest male in the world, following the sad demise of the Japanese gentleman who previously held that distinction.

 

[Smithy]

Mr. Henry Allingham is now officially the oldest male in the world, following the sad demise of the Japanese gentleman who previously held that distinction.

Good to hear he's still going strong.

 

[Smithy]

I was very sorry to see on the BBC that Mr Allingham has passed away. A long life well lived...

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/8157128.stm

 

[Edward]

Never ceases to amaze me when I see those photos of guys up in the air in those old biplanes, which were often little more than canvas and wood with a machine gun on the front - and, more to the point, up against another guy with a similar setup, and that was all you had between you and his machine gun!

Sad to hear of this old boy's passing; hopefully his words on the lessons he learned about 'war and the pity of war' won't be lost on future generations.