100 year old bomber pilot takes to Shropshire's skies for birthday flight
Second world war bomber hero Johnnie Trotman took to the controls of a much smaller and more peaceful aircraft to celebrate his 100th birthday.
Licensed pilot Johnnie, of Marchamley Wood, took off from Sleap Airfield near Wem and flew to RAF Shawbury where he was given a celebratory welcome, a cup of tea and a piece of cake before returning.
"I am slowing down a bit now," said Johnnie who beat incredible odds to survive no less than 70 missions during the 1939-45 conflict. "But I am a qualified pilot and can still drive a car."
As Flight Lieutenant Trotman, he flew 30 mission in Wellington bombers on night missions. He holds the Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC) for exemplary gallantry - and bar, meaning he won it twice.
The French people also awarded him their top Légion d'Honneur for his wartime service.
The death rate for RAF bomber crew was incredibly high and Mr Trotman says the survival rate for 70 missions was "nobody".
On one mission he crash landed in Belgium but was lucky enough to be on the Allied side of the front line.
After completing missions on the twin-engined, long-range medium bomber he flew the unique wooden Mosquito fighter-bomber as a pathfinder.
That means he was among the first aircraft over bombing zones and recalls the searchlights and anti aircraft gunfire in vivid details.
Even though he passed his medical exam to be able to fly in January, insurance means he has to have a second pilot in the cockpit at the same time.
Pilot Keith Walker, 68, said; "Johnnie is a great inspiration and a great friend. It is an honour to fly with him."
Johnnie and Keith often head off from Shropshire Aero Club on long flights around the UK. They used to stop off to buy Johnnie's second wife Olwen a chocolate bar but they don't do that any more.
Mr Walker revealed: "He was used to radio silence in the war so I handle that, and he doesn't like the rules too much!"
Mr Walker said Olwen was instrumental in persuading Johnnie to fly again about 16 years ago. He helped Johnnie to get his pilot's licence back.
Johnnie usually flies a high wing Cesna in the afternoons between March and October, because as Olwen says "he is at his best in the afternoons but not when it gets dark at 4 o'clock."
After the war, Johnnie had a 40 year career servicing vacuum cleaners for Hoover before retiring.
Yesterday (Friday) Olwen, his wife of 16 years, said: "The birthday flight was excellent. He gave himself nine out of 10!
"He came home and had a snooze."
He's also received a card from The Queen to mark the birthday.
And on Friday morning he was having a lie-in before heading off for a celebratory lunch.
Johnnie's book 'J' for Johnnie is available for sale at £9.95. It's about an RAF Bomber Command pilot's experiences flying Wellington and Mosquito aircraft with 150 and 692 squadrons during World War II.
