W.W.II aircrew still flying?

Thank you all. Pretty impressive isn’t it? Fascinating, and something best compiled using this kind of media. Thanks again.

I don’t know how representative it is, but I’ve noticed from those I’ve met, that many of today’s surviving W.W.II aircrew are not just long lived but very active as well. I wonder what the statistics would be?

Regards,

Russ Bannock, Mosquito pilot, still flies floatplanes in Canada IIRC. He was a night fighter/intruder ace with 418 Sqn.

At High River Alberta, Gordon Jones still flies the Tiger Moth that he Flew from RCAF Station High River as an Instructor during WW2!

This chap is still flying . . .

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-highlands-islands-11319098

“This page claims that a Captain John Miller was the world’s oldest pilot flying from age 18 till he died at 102.”

Not just “a claim.” Captain John and I shared a hangar at KPOU, and yes, he did fly till he was 102.

He never owned a Mustang…but I’m fairly sure he no longer flies at least as PIC. He is 87.

Bud Anderson would fly Jack Roush’s Mustang(s) but I’m not sure he does that any longer. He is 88.

I’m pretty sure Bud stil flies…. & even if Yeager owned an aircraft I doubt he would be able to find anyone to work on it…

Going ever slightly off-topic, who was the last active pilot from the previous world war?
Air Commodore Harold ‘Daddy’ Probyn flew a BE2C with 34 Squadron RFC and was still flying until days before his death in 1984. But was he the last of his breed?

I believe one of our Russavia Rapide pilots, Mike Graty, may still be flying his Jodel that he has owned from new in 1969. He certainly was a year or so ago. Mike flew Lancs and had a long postwar commercial flying career.

Jock Moffat? He had a PA-22 last thing I knew.

James, interesting question. Not famous, but 384th BG B-17 lead pilot Clarence Stearns flys his floatplane up to his cabin in Saskatchewan every summer from Wyoming. I talked to him two nights ago, he must be about 90 now, and he’s healthy.

Rufus Heald was still flying as a freelance ‘instructor’ back in 2007.

I haven’t heard a lot of him lately though.

http://www.rufus.aviators.net/

Moggy

🙂

http://www.bbc.co.uk/cambridgeshire/content/articles/2008/01/25/tiger_moth_70_feature.shtml

I remember seeing an interview with him when he was over 100 talking about taking his Bonanza up for a flip around his home town. I think he must be the oldest pilot on record.

Wing Commander Kenneth Horatio Wallis MBE, DEng (hc), CEng, FRAeS, FSETP, PhD (hc), RAF (Ret’d),
…
Wonderful. 🙂

Indeed. As I said in my opening post, Ken Wallis I find a true inspiration, and on a very short list or aviators I regard as truly exceptional. Really one of a kind.

This page claims that a Captain John Miller was the world’s oldest pilot flying from age 18 till he died at 102.
http://www.actionjetz.com/pilots/blog/friday-airplane-trivia-oldest-pilot-in-the-world/

http://blog.timesunion.com/pilotgirl/oldest-living-pilot-in-the-world/465/

Wing Commander Kenneth Horatio Wallis MBE, DEng (hc), CEng, FRAeS, FSETP, PhD (hc), RAF (Ret’d),

I have a press shot of Ken partnered by Spitfire Pilot Tony Cooper swanning around in the dual Autogyro, both over 90 and planning to do it again when they are 95.

Wonderful. 🙂

Mark

Thanks Dave. While speculation and guesses are better than nothing, I’d like to see as much accurate data as we can unearth.

My maths indicate that a minimum age would be about 82+, dependant on honesty on age at recruitment and speed to wings qualification; the latter varying of course on the nation in question’s situation in 1945.

UK’s oldest pilot apparently, Don mcColl aged 88
http://findarticles.com/p/news-articles/daily-mail-london-england-the/mi_8002/is_2010_Sept_18/airborne-hero-skys-limit-wartime/ai_n55285634/

Cecil ‘Boz’ Parsons in Australia, former Whitley pilot, now 92 – still flying, still alive?
http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/still-flying-high-at-91-not-out-20100610-y0h8.html

Doug Gregory, ex-wartime pilot and now Britain’s oldest ‘stunt’ pilot at 87
http://www.dailyecho.co.uk/news/8193541.A_lifetime_in_the_skies/

Hans Ekkehard-Bob, perhaps?