Former RAF Lissett airman marks 80th Remembrance Sunday
As hundreds of brave World War Two veterans prepare to honour their fallen comrades on Sunday, one British airman with a remarkable story will be among them.
Ronnie Holdsworth, 105, survived the war despite having one of the most dangerous jobs in the RAF.
As the tail gunner of an RAF bomber, Ronnie miraculously survived flying 32 missions as part of Bomber Command and is one of the few WW2 airmen still alive.
Ronnie, originally from Bradford, will mark his 80th Remembrance Sunday at the retirement home in now lives at in California, America.
Ronnie was stationed at RAF Lissett with 158 squadron, converting from twin-engined Vickers Wellingtons to the Handley Page Halifax, a four-engined heavy bomber.
The crew came close to crashing near Duisberg on Christmas Eve, 1944.
Ronnie said: “We were coming up to target. There was a big noise.
“We hit the target and on the way back the skipper said one of our oxygen tanks had been hit.
“He didn’t know if the undercarriage would hold up. It shook me up, I thought ‘I’m going to be a guest of Hitler’s for Christmas’.”
The plane completed an emergency landing at RAF Carnaby near Bridlington.
Ronnie said: “We all piled out and saw the damage – a hole in the side of the plane.”
His last mission was near Berlin on January 16, 1945.
Ronnie met his wife Margaret at RAF Kirkham where they were both stationed. The couple, who had two sons, Derek and Mike, emigrated to America in 1958.
Ronnie was a milkman initially, then built a successful career in sales.
Until 2008 he attended 158 Squadron reunions and wrote to his crew navigator, New Zealander Bobby Kennedy, until he died in the 1990s.
In America, Ronnie has taken part in many veterans events.
At aged 90 he was back in a rear turret and on his 100th birthday he took to the skies again, in a 1940s bi-plane. On his 105th birthday he rode in a tank and received a letter from President Trump.
His family flew out on Thursday (November 5) to be with him.
His great-niece Angie Burns, 53, said: “We’re taking Remembrance Sunday to Ronnie.
“He’s returned to the UK over the years for reunions with 158 Squadron but he can no longer travel.
“Ronnie’s retirement home in Bakersfield is organising a special event for him and other veterans.
“International Bomber Command managed to obtain an RAF uniform for him to wear and they’re producing a replica of his logbook, detailing all his 32 ops.
“We have also contacted Buckingham Palace requesting a message from the King.
“Ronnie’s war service is incredible. He is one of the world’s last surviving WW2 airmen.
“He’s very humble and still has a sense of humour.
“His crew nicknamed him Chico because he was from a musical family and liked to dance. He still does a dance class every day.
“People say ‘there aren’t any war veterans left now’ - well we want the world to know that Ronnie is still here.
“A Bradford man who flew backwards, in a cramped, isolating, freezing turret, for hours, on dangerous raids, day and night.”