Issue 35 autumn 2022 - Flipbook - Page 4
Veteran WW2 hero
celebrates his centenary
A veteran American WW2 pilot who returned to RAF
North Witham in 2019 has marked his 100th birthday
with a hero’s celebration in the United States. Lt Col
David Hamilton used the council-hosted visit to re-live
his exploits as the last surviving pilot from a perilous
pre-invasion mission flown on the eve of D-Day.
Three years on, military colleagues have rolled out the
red carpet to celebrate his centenary.
David was flown to join the WWII Airborne Demonstration Team at Frederick Regional Airport Army Airfield in
Oklahoma for a weekend of celebrations including a flight
in an historic Douglas C-47 Skytrain, nicknamed Wild Cat.
Team members parachuted from the aircraft in his honour
and Dave took the controls for several minutes.
Cllr Annie Mason, South Kesteven District Council Cabinet member for People and Safer Communities, said: “We
were delighted to host Lt Col Hamilton back in in 2019
on the 75th anniversary of D-Day and how wonderful to
see how his 100th birthday has been celebrated.We must
never forget the debt we owe to men like him, and all
those he flew with and what they did to help turn the tide
of war.”
As a 21-year-old, 1st Lt Hamilton piloted one of the 20
C-47s of America’s 9th Troop Carrier Command that
took off late on the evening of June 5, 1944. On board
were USAAF 82nd Airborne Pathfinder paratroopers
ready to drop into France behind German lines.
Having flown the outward mission at 50ft above the
Channel to avoid enemy radar, Hamilton returned to
RAF North Witham with more than 200 holes in his aircraft from anti-aircraft and small arms fire.
His visit in 2019 focused on a tour of his former airfield,
one of several huge American airfields surrounding
Grantham in 1944, and unveiling of an interpretation board
on the 5 June mission.
Hamilton left the US Army Air Force when World War
II ended and flew for American Overseas Airline. In
1950, he was recalled into the US Air Force and flew 51
combat missions in the Korean War.