A World War Two hero and veteran with a lifelong passion for flight is about to reach a golden milestone this weekend when he turns 100 years old.
Fred Jennings from Lisburn is also an esteemed member of Ulster’s aviation fraternity who was born on February 16 1925, during the Golden Age of Aviation: the years between the two world wars.
The 1920s and ‘30s were a time when aircraft design and production were running hard to keep up with the pace of sprinting technology and rapidly-expanding commercial and military aviation.
READ MORE: NI art therapist bows out after 17 years supporting cancer patients of all ages
READ MORE: Meet the Belfast students inspiring the next generation of volunteers
Fred’s fascination with aviation began many many years ago. He was nine years old in 1934, at his home in Newmarket, Suffolk, when a bright red aircraft roared into sight. It was a DH88 racer on its way to set a speed record to Australia, where it won a coveted trophy.
From that moment, Fred was hooked. Australia still seems a long way, even via huge jet airliners, but back then it likely seemed to a young lad like another planet.
Very few veterans of the Second World War are still among us, but Fred is one of them. When the war broke out in 1939, Fred was naturally drawn to the world of aeroplanes.
He enlisted in the RAF during that conflict, serving in the UK and the continent as a radar technician. The air force taught him a trade, and the new recruit eventually found himself as a ground crewman in the tumult of a massive air war in Europe.
At one point in January 1945, a German air raid pulverized his squadron’s base in Belgium. He dove for cover. Once the smoke and dust cleared he found his headset nearby “blown to smithereens” by a cannon shell.
Post-war, Fred was based in India but his RAF career ended in 1947. He extended his training to civilian radar and eventually landed at Nutts Corner airport.
His own personal radar was fairly accurate, for in 1950 he met and married a young radar operator named Margaret. Theirs was a long and loving marriage spent in before moving to Northern Ireland and producing a son and two daughters before Margaret died in 2004.
Fred’s career finally took him to nearby Aldergrove airport, where he ran the radio navigation station as senior telecommunications officer. He joined the Ulster Aviation Society just before its collection was relocated in 2005 from Langford Lodge to its present location in Lisburn.
“He’s an outstanding example of living history and he’s been an outstanding member of our organisation for more than 20 years,” said Ray Burrows, chairman of the Ulster Aviation Society.
“We’re proud to boast such a veteran in our membership. Fred Jennings is amazing. Up until very recently he was one of our most active members, putting together an aviation library second to none and establishing a specialised radio collection as well.
“He was to be seen at our hangars more often than most of our volunteers. He has a very special place in our hearts and we wish him the happiest and most memorable 100th birthday.”
The Ulster Aviation Society will be celebrating Fred’s 100th on Saturday, 15 February at its museum at the old Long Kesh airfield—itself a symbol of aviation history, as it was a busy RAF base during the Second World War.
Video by Belfast Live videographer Harry Bateman.
For all the latest news, visit the Belfast Live homepage here and sign up to our daily newsletter here.
English (United States) ·