RAF veteran celebrates 112th birthday at Cranwell

London, 4 June/GNN/ -- MINISTRY OF DEFENCE News Release (PN_105/2008) issued by The Government News Network on 4 June 2008 On Friday 6 June Henry Allingham, the oldest surviving Royal Air Force vete

In this, the 90th anniversary year of the Royal Air Force the Service has
laid on a series of special celebrations at College Hall to mark the event.

Following a VIP birthday lunch Henry and his guests will witness a fly past
by the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight after which the Royal Air Force
Falcons Parachute Display Team will drop in, in front of College Hall. Later
in the afternoon 40 pupils from Cranwell Primary School will join the party
and present him with his birthday cake.

Henry will be joined in the celebrations by Air Vice Marshal Peter Dye (retd),
Vice Admiral Sir Adrian Johns (Second Sea Lord and Commander-in-Chief Naval
Home Command) and by family and friends.

Henry Allingham, Air Mechanic First Class (RNAS F8317 - RAF 208317) was
born on 6 June 1896 in Clapham, London and became a founder member of the
Royal Air Force when it was formed from the Royal Naval Air Service (RNAS)
and the Army's Flying Corps in 1918. Among the many medals and honours Henry
has been awarded are the British War Medal, the Victory Medal and the Legion
D'Honneur, the highest military accolade awarded by France.

NOTES TO EDITORS:
1. You are invited to send media representatives to cover the 112th birthday
celebrations of Henry Allingham on Friday 6 June at Royal Air Force College
Cranwell, near Sleaford, in Lincolnshire.

2. The press facility will take place at College Hall between 1230-1530 hours.

3. Applications for a place at the facility should be made by e-mail to
Ruth Vernon, Corporate Communications Officer at Royal Air Force Cranwell
at cco@cranwell.raf.mod.uk by 1700 hours on Tuesday 3 June.

4. Rendezvous details will then be forwarded to those attending.

Issued by:

Ruth Vernon
Corporate Communications Officer
Royal Air Force Cranwell
Sleaford
Lincolnshire
NG34 8HB

Tel: 01400 267076
Mob: 07766 511 351
E-mail: cco@cranwell.raf.mod.uk

Source: Ministry of Defence

2008-06-04 04:57:23 0376856 PRNEWSWIRE