Peter was joined by fellow veterans and members of 653 Squadron Air Army Corps
A WW2 hero visited Manchester Airport for a surprise party this week to celebrate his 100th birthday.
Peter Davies, from Bollington, was a glider pilot during WW2, based at RAF Chilbolton in Hampshire.
He flew Hamilcar gliders, most notably as part of Operation Varsity – the largest airborne military assault ever launched – to gain a foothold across the River Rhine into Germany in March 1945.
Peter takes a salute from Concorde
The gliders were amongst the largest aircraft produced at the time and were designed to carry heavy cargo, including tanks, and deposit them behind enemy lines.
Peter’s glider was hit several times and crash-landed, but remarkably he made it out alive.
Peter celebrates turning 100 with his daughters
RAF Ringway, which was the name given to Manchester Airport during WW2, was a key training school for the airborne forces, and was the location of the first military glider trials in 1940.
The success of the trials led to the founding of Peter’s regiment – and many years later, after relocating to the North West, Peter helped raise funds for a dedicated memorial to his former regiment in the onsite memorial garden at Manchester Airport.
Peter was treasurer of the Glider Pilots’ Association, which was set up to raise funds and build the memorial, which was unveiled on 23rd April 1997.
A surprise party was held to mark Peter’s 100th birthday
RAF Ringway
Manchester Airport was converted for military use in 1939 at the onset of WW2, becoming RAF Ringway, and the base for the No. 1 Parachute Training School RAF, which was responsible for training British and allied parachutists.
The training school was also where the first trials of military gliders took place, which led to the formation of the Army Air Corps in 1942.
After Winston Churchill decreed that Britain should have a force capable of striking targets behind enemy lines, RAF Ringway’s status as a training centre for airborne forces made it one of the North West’s most prominent airbases.
Many troops from overseas came to RAF Ringway to train ahead of the Normandy landings, including Americans, Canadians, Belgians, Dutch, Czechs, Poles and Norwegians.
RAF Ringway was also an important centre for warplane and glider construction.
More than 4,000 planes and gliders were built at the base over the course of the war.
Part of the site was converted back to a civil aviation airport after the war concluded, and the RAF withdrew fully in 1957.
Peter turned 100 on Tuesday (23rd August) and was given a guard of honour in the airport’s memorial garden by around a dozen veterans from across the North West.
They were joined by serving members of 653 Squadron Air Army Corps based at Middle Wallop in Hampshire, who travelled up to Manchester especially for the event.
Peter during the service of Remembrance
Airport chaplain George Lane conducted a brief service, and wreaths were laid for friends Peter had lost during the war, before the group moved to the Runway Visitor Park, where there was a surprise birthday party.
Peter commented: “It’s an unbelievable surprise, this must have been the best kept secret going.
“It has been wonderful to see so many faces here to wish me a happy birthday.”
Peter with his daughters and friend Kevin Hainey
Among those organising the celebrations was Kevin Hainey a friend of Peter’s and the head of motor transport at Manchester Airport, as well as being a decorated veteran himself.
Kevin said: “I have known Peter for eight years; we meet each year in the memorial garden outside Olympic House at the airport, at the annual service of Remembrance.”
Peter chatted to members of 653 Squadron Air Army Corps
He added: “With the momentous occasion of his 100th birthday approaching, we knew we needed to do something special for him, to celebrate a man who put his life on the line for his country all those years ago and to ensure that we gave him the chance to honour the friends he lost, which is very important to him.
“Their regimental motto was ‘nothing is impossible’ and they proved that time and time again, but they paid a heavy price.”
Manchester Airport MD Chris Woodroofe laying a wreath
Chris Woodroofe, Manchester Airport’s managing director, also attended the service and laid a wreath in the Memorial Garden.
He commented: “It was a privilege to welcome Peter back to Manchester Airport today.
“The Glider Pilot Regiment, which traces its roots to RAF Ringway, made an indelible contribution during the war and sadly the number of people who can personally remember their sacrifices is diminishing.
“However, thanks to Peter’s efforts in establishing a memorial here, they will never be forgotten.
“I’d like to thank all of his family and friends – many of whom are colleagues here at Manchester Airport – for organising his surprise visit, and most importantly I’d like to wish Peter a very happy birthday.”
