A Second World War RAF veteran has reflected on his time serving the country as he calls for solidarity on world issues. Jack Hemmings, 103, volunteered to serve with the air force at the age of 19. He was stationed in India for four years where he carried out reconnaissance missions off the Burma, now Myanmar, coast.
During his time there with 353 Squadron, Jack, who lives near Heathfield, scouted out Japanese submarines and attacked occupied ports. He said: “We used to fly into a hail of anti-aircraft fire but it was totally emotionless. “I think it’s because your mind is totally devoted to doing what you’re supposed to do.
Jack Hemmings pictured in 1947 (Image: Mission Aviation Fellowship) “You can’t step back from it and say ‘gosh, this is scary’, you’re concentrating on the target or keeping a lookout in case they send any fighters up.” On his love for flying, Mr Hemmings said: “One of the nice things about it is that you’re away from you lot, humans, and all the ways of the world are all down there, I’m away from it all." Mr Hemmings was awarded an Air Force Cross for exemplary gallantry while in India and hoped to be presented with it by the King.
He visited the air ministry to ask when the royal presentation would take place, only to be handed it by an officer worker from a filing cabinet. Mr Hemmings said: “She did say something about ‘well, you will understand, so many people got gongs at this stage of the war, the King can’t do them .