101-Year-Old Veteran Loops Legendary WW2 Aircraft
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- Опубликовано: 31 май 2024
- A veteran pilot has returned to the skies to celebrate his 101st birthday. Bernard Gardiner took off in the world's only two-seat Hawker Hurricane having last flown it more than 80 years ago during the Second World War.
The flight was a thank you from the Hawker Preservation Group after Bernard's support to help raise funds for the rebuild of another aircraft, the Hawker Typhoon, that he also flew during WW2. The group is hoping to raise £6.5 million to restore it back to its former glory.
In this heartwarming video, you can watch Bernard soar through the skies once again in a Hawker Hurricane, reliving his memories and embodying the spirit of courage that defined an era.
Remember to subscribe to our channel for more compelling stories of courage, history, and the preservation of our past.
You can find out more about the group here: hawkertyphoon.com/ and to make a donation please click the following link: hawkertyphoon.com/donate
Thanks to Mark Litherland for supplying extra footage.
#AviationHistory #VeteranStories #HawkerTyphoonPreservation #HawkerHurricane #DuxfordAirfield
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When real men saved the world from evil!
They'll be spinning in their graves at the state of our world now 😔
From real evil
Very disrespectful to young service people (and their families)who die in modern wars.
"real men"
as opposed to?
@@Seygem as opposed to the alphabet of weirdos nowadays I'd reckon eh 🤔
Thank you, Bernard Gardner, for your service to your country and to Freedom....
He sounds really great. Great voice. If I only listened to him speak I would have no idea whether he was 50 or 101.
It’s suprising sometimes I work for an agency that transports elderly people to doctors appointments one of our drivers is 96 years old he sounds like he’s about 50
You would never think Bernard was 101, he talks and walks as good as someone half his age. Such a gentleman, so humble about what he has done for his country. And so grateful for his birthday flight. What a guy! They don't make them like they used to. Happy Birthday Bernard, thank you for all you have done for us during the war, and I really do hope you live to see the Typhoon fly again 👍
They say they are the greatest generation of that era.
Happy 101st Birthday Bernard! A true hero! 🎂 🇬🇧
Incredible. Thank you to Bernard & it will be incredible to see a Typhoon flying.
What a truly wonderful man, flying in a truly wonderful aircraft.
I knew an old fighter pilot who had flown Hawker Typhoons among other aircraft during WW2. He wrote to his parents to say that the Typhoon 'sounded as though it ran on chisels'.
A humble gentleman....and he does of course know the difference between a roll and a loop; he was just too polite to point it out!
I'm a senior citizen now and have not flown in almost 40 years. I seriously doubt that I could have executed a roll as well as he did. God bless you sir and thank you for your service.
Amazing how lucid and expressive Mr Gardiner is. Thanks for this episode HH!
Flying is similar to riding a bike. You never forget how to do it! You could see 1944 in his expressions as he flew. He was indeed a young man again! Absolutely wonderful story!
l started riding a motorcycle 60 years ago, even now when l throw a leg over the seat of my present bike and fire her up I'm a young 'rocker' from the sixties...injury and perhaps death is just as close....but at least I'm not being shot at....Respect Bernard..
Happy Birthday Sir. Thank you for your service and saving freedom. Former U.S. Marine myself.
Your post is a testemt to your service as well Sir
This Yank has the highest appreciation, respect, and gratitude for these true Brits.
What a lovely gentleman. I hope he gets to see the Typhoon fly again.
Seeing that legend's face lighten up the moment weight was off the wheels was just magic
My family served in the RAAF. We call them men, but they were boys provided with the most formidable of task's , to return safely only to be given the next mission to return from .
To Bernard , my respect and gratitude.
Lest we forget
What an absolute legend....sad to think there's only a few of his generation left...a very special generation indeed...
Just for a moment, he was young again. Thank you for doing this for him.
Did you notice the smile on his face as soon they they were airborne? It never gets old even when we do!
He's so typical of his generation..a remarkable man..gentle and unassuming....
What an amazing gentleman who doesn't look a day older than 70. Thank you for your service
Happy birthday Mr. Bernard !
From Brazil 🇧🇷.
"I was just doing my job"! I think that sentence alone says everything about this generation of brave men and women.
What a humble hero, I hope he gets to see her fly!
A quiet, self effacing man who did extraordinary things. Legend.
These men like Gardiner are legends. God bless them all.
*We owe so much to the men - and women- who fought and supported the fighting to save the world!*
*THANK GOD FOR THE ARROW IN THE THUMBNAIL TO SHOW US WHERE THE AIRPLANE IS.*
Mr. Gardner's ride in the Hawker Hurricane, the rebuilding of the Hawker Typhoon, and Mr. Gardner himself - Totally awesome! Mr. Gardner was from my dad's generation, and from my dad, a sniper in the US Army, I heard stories about the awful sacrifices it took to help save the world from evil. Thank you, and God bless you, Mr. Gardner!
Thank you so much for keeping the memories of what these young men did for us all those many years ago.
The act of remembering the forgotten is a fundamental refusal to surrender the future to entropy.
What a incredible man and 101! Wow!
With respect, their sacrifices will never have been “in vain”; thanks to them, we have freedom, democracy, and the institutions that promote and advance them. The responsibility is now on us and on the next generations to stand up for what they passed to us. Projects like this will help us all to remain vigilant and to avoid taking anything they fought for, for granted.
Thanks for your work on this important project.
Wake up, look around you, look at the state of our country, our cities, the invasion of our land, aided and abetted by the traitors in Westminster - it was all for nothing
The little smile as he takes off again :)
We must pay tribute to these brave men who were part of our recovered freedom.
Please History Hit, sit down with this hero and tease those stories out of him! What a national treasure this gentleman is!!! May he live much longer!!!
I do declare he became 21 again in that flight. What an amazing fellow..
To answer your 1st question, Most likely feeding the worms. So that's why i'm happy to be able to see this while i can. It is an honor to be able to see the work The Hawker Preservation Group has done and a pleasure to see Captain Gardiner, A man born in Moose Jaw. get back in the saddle again. Thank you for giving such an appropriate gift to a MOST deserving man.
For 101 this man’s is still strong. Probably stronger than I am at 70. I wish him many flights he’s Earned That! Without Those “Few Brave Men” we’d all be speaking German or Japanese.
Fine looking man at 101, GOD BLESS HIM.
What an incredible man is Bernard. He makes me feel like there is hope
Damn tears in my eyes... I wish on my 101st I can fly in a 737-800 again. I missed the days as First Officer on the Beauty... happy to still have more than 30 years of flying ahead of me for the Airlines :) - Now A320 First Officer
Thank you Bernard, you are one of those to whom we owe so much for the freedom we have had for the past 77 years. Let us not forget that freedom has cost many dearly. Lest we forget.
A gentleman and a pilot. I would expect no less from his generation.
So so good. This legend getting to jump back in his chariot almost 80 year later, brings a tear to my eye. Thank you for the service and sacrifice you gave to the free world ❤️
Can only imagine how many emotions went through his mind during that flight. The sadness, the joy, all coming to him in waves.
Hurricane, typhoon, tempest and seafury.....nuff said ..happy birthday young man.
What a magnificent individual. It’s amazing at 101 he is in full command and has the energy and presence of a far younger man. The body aged but the man is still a warrior. Respect.
So touching to see this old eagle flying again in a fighter of his time. One can imagine his thoughts as he takes-off!
Now that's a hero. The very definition in fact.
This brought tears to my eyes. What a beautiful way to honor both this man and this aircraft's legacy. Most people think of the Spitfire when they remember the Battle of Britain, but without the Hawker Hurricane the battle would have been lost. While it was slower, the Hurricane could easily outturn the Spit and the bf109. It was actually the perfect compliment to the Spit and vice versa.
This young man is truly inspiring ....
God Bless these men, we are here thanks to them..
People sometimes forget how young WW2 pilots were, my father was trained to fly by the RAF aged 17 straight out of The Leys School Cambridge. Went solo very fast, and loved every minute of it. Chocks away Bernard.
What a great video. We owe so much to this magnificent gentleman and all who participated during WW2 many paying the ultimate sacrifice who served our country so that we can have the freedom we have now. I salute you Sir
Taking up WWII vets again after all these years must be a great feeling in a pilot's career.
The gentleman is the absolute best of humanity....sadly no longer a common thing in the world.
Blokes a legend. Flew 71 missions so people like me can enjoy their freedom and remains totally humble.
What a great birthday for a great man to fly a great aircraft! Greeting from across the pond! 🇺🇸 🇬🇧
Thank you Bernard
Eloquent and persuasive introduction, let's hope this fantastic project gets finally "off the ground".
Thank you Bernard, my old RAF dad (enlisted 1944) would have loved this had he still been here.
We lost so many Typhoon pilots in training or accidents, I understand the aircraft was tricky to fly and land till the pilots became more accustomed to its ways.
o7 (salute) to Bernard Gardner, your saved my ancestors and saved me, i would not be here right now writing this comment without all of your sacrifices.
from Canada: there is no way to adequately thank those of all nations who fought at great cost to give us the freedom we have today. bless them all - may they never be forgotten
This is wonderful, he was 20 again when he got back in the cockpit! God bless him and the good folks that restored this wonderful aircraft!
Looks tops for his age. What a legend. Happy birthday old sport!!
This man is such an inspiration.
Talk about keep calm and carry on. What an absolute 100% genuine Legend is Bernard.
Next time you are fortunate enough to pass a WW2 Veteran dont let that moment pass without a Handshake and a hearty thanks as you may not have the chance again.
Thank. You Bernard for your service this was amazing seeing you back in the air
Well done Sir. So few of the so few left. Glad he got to fly again.
What a wonderful thing they did for this fine gentlemen.
Da stimate domnule pilot. Sunteți un mare reverend cu înalt respect în materie de zbor.
Incredible man, incredible aircraft, wonderful legacy ❤
Bernard's in excellent condition, not just for 101 years old but for someone 20 or 30 years younger!!
Thank you Bernard! I hope I'm that sharp when I'm in my second century. Wonderful man.
That's just freaking AWESOME !!!! Good for him 👍 it's hard to believe that he's 101 !!!!!!
Heartwarming indeed. Thank you for this! But most of all, thank you Bernard for your distinguished service.
The Typhoon is a hugely impressive marque, especially once it found its 'ground attack' niche. That huge airscoop, coupled with the high pitched, high revving engine plus formidable black/white invasion stripes, when used, must have made this an awesome weapon to face, even before it had fired a shot. The ack ack Bernard will have faced in his, was it 77 missions? Remarkable.
His family must be as proud as punch, and deservedly so. 🇬🇧🌟👍
Thank You Bernard, gentlemen like you and my great uncles made our world a safe place. My ultimate wish is to fly a spitfire, but the Hawker Typhoon is grand plane.
What a marvellous old man.
He took that loop, like it was nothing at all ; wonderful !
Thank you for your service and sacrifice. Youth of today shall never know those dark days and the selflessness of you and your fellow servicemen and women.
huge respect for what you are doing ,and its lovely to see that you letting these real english heroes get back in the seat
What a wonderful old gentleman. I had an uncle who was a Spitfire pilot.
This man is a real hero👍👍👍👍👍
Hawker Hurricane: Very very expensive! ...... The smile while doing the loop de loop: Priceless!
So awesome, what a great project to honour men like Bernard
A project like this keepster this hero alive 😊
Wow. I don’t think I’ve ever seen anyone of that age that is looking that good and that sharp.
God Bless That Man.
Thank you Bernard
Majestic, excellent, beautiful, great venture.
Happy anniversary
Respect...grand respect Monsieur
Captain Bernard Gardiner put in his substantial contribution to the preservation of the free world all those years ago . He looks spry enough now to have really enjoyed this recent excursion in that airplane , and I bet that he appreciated that there weren't any Germans shooting at him this time !
You know he LOVED that and a BIG THANK YOU to those who made it happen!!!!!!
Enjoyed your video and I gave it a Thumbs Up
Duxford will ALWAYS have a special place in my heart
More life to you sir. Well done.
Bravest of the brave! A true British hero and a national treasure
It literally gave me chills , a laugh out loud , and a thunderous clap of the hands to watch the smile on his face as he looped the Hurricane !!!!! Well done sir , and thank you from a former Marine ( Yank 😉 ) . Love aviation , worked on F 18s during my time in service .... I sincerely appreciate everything our veterans have done , both here and across the pond . Thank You . Hope you are still with us and that you somehow see this ....
Truly beautiful and inspiring. Thank you from the thousands Bernard!! Happy birthday 😁🙂
God bless everyone involved here. Wonderful, thank you xx🤗🤗
What a wonderful story. Not alone reaching 101 but taking to the air again and the aircraft was beautifully restored.
That man is a national treasure!