A World War Two veteran took to the skies last week for the first time since being part of a parachute regiment in Burma.
Leading aircraftsman Alan Barkes (97) of High Street, Holbeach, last weekend flew once again in an aircraft courtesy of the son of one of his former comrades.
Alan was a member of the 2810 (Parachute) Squadron RAF Regiment formed in 1945 to parachute into Malaysia and attempt the liberation of that country from within, in what was designated Operation Zipper.
After several practice jumps, what looked like a suicidal mission was due to take place just days after the atomic bomb were dropped on Hiroshima.
Japan’s subsequent surrender meant the operation was not needed.
The training flights and jumps were the last times Alan had been in an aircraft until his 30 minute trip from Fenland Airfield last Saturday.
That was courtesy of Nigel Fallow whose father Tom Fallow fought alongside Alan in the war.
Alan had contributed to a history book ‘Never Not Ready – The History of the RAF Regiment Parachute Units 1942-2012’ and Nigel got in touch as a result.
He owns his own plane and regularly flies down from the north east to see Alan.
The pair are planning to fly to the Project Propeller remembrance event that’s taking place in Wolverhampton on June 17.
The weather was so good in Holbeach last Saturday they decided to go up there and then.
“It was smashing,” Alan said. “It was really wonderful and the first time I’ve been in an aircraft since 1945.
“The last time was to fly into Kallang, Singapore following the Japanese surrender.
“Nigel has become like a member of the family over the last few years and he’s always been saying he would take me in the plane again.
“It was great to sit in the cockpit and put the headphones on.
“We flew right over Holbeach. It was really fantastic.”
Lincolnshire born and bred Alan has lived in Holbeach for nearly 46 years and originally fought with the 2810 (Field) Squadron and volunteered to be a part of the new parachute regiment.
They had taken part in extensive training in Burma ahead of the intended drop into Malaysia that was thankfully not needed in the end.
He lives with wife Lynne at the former wine merchants he used to run with his first wife, Mabel while working for the Greene King brewery.
It was part of a special week for Alan who also on Monday met his twin great great granddaughters, nine-month-old
Delilah and Maisie for the first time.
It was part of a family reunion which saw five generations of the Barkes family together.
“I can’t believe the week I’ve had,” Alan continued. “They didn’t tell me about getting the family together so it was a complete surprise.”
