Casimer ‘Casey’ Bukowski was thrown a surprise party when he came back to the base he was stationed at decades ago.
The 102-year-old celebrated with a slice of cake, a pint and even a return to the skies inside a glider plane.
The momentous occasion took place on 4 Jun.
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The glider flew over Ridgewell Airfield – in Halstead, Essex – where Casey had been stationed in 1943.
During his visit, he even got the chance to visit the White Horse for a pint – the same pub he often trekked to while stationed there during the war.
After arriving as a teenager from New York, he was assigned to the 381st Bomb Group.
The vet, who served as a waist gunner on a Boeing B-17 aircraft, even served time as a prisoner of war.
In February 1944, his plane was shot down over Germany – six of his crewmates were killed with Casey surviving.
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He was marched to a war camp where he spent 14 months locked up before being freed by US troops on 26 Apr 1945.
During the party Casey spent time with Jean, who is also 102-years-old.
She helped to construct Ridgewell’s runways during World War II and even dated a young American crewman who was based there.
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Casey previously visited the airfield for his 100th birthday.
Sarah Allen, from Ridgewell Airfield museum, told What’s The Jam: “It was wonderful to see Casey again. He is the last veteran from the 381st bomb group to fly over Ridgewell.
“When he arrived at the museum on Thursday, he told me that it was like ‘coming home’.
“Casey is such a character, a gentleman, always smiling and willing to tell others about his incredible story.
“Casey is one of life’s true heroes.
”It is hard to imagine what he went through and how he managed to survive.
”We are very lucky to have him come and visit again.
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