Pilot shares pride in honouring D-Day predecessors

Col Ryan Garlow (left) and Maj Michael Hansen (right) will fly a KC-135 aircraft during the D-Day anniversary

A pilot has spoken of his pride in honouring his squadron's predecessors that were a part of D-Day in 1944.

Col Ryan Garlow is the commander of the 100th Air Refuelling Wing at RAF Mildenhall in Suffolk.

The US Air Force squadron can trace its history back to World War Two.

Col Garlow said he was honoured to pilot an aircraft as part of the D-Day 80th anniversary in Normandy on Thursday.

Col Ryan Garlow will pilot the KC-135 during the flypast

"For us at the 100th to be able to be involved is quite exciting, not just because we're here today but because we were there 80 years ago flying three missions," he explained.

"I think it's a great way to honour that."

Col Garlow will help pilot a KC-135 aircraft that will be flanked by two F-35s during the anniversary flypast.

"It'll be quite spectacular seeing one of the oldest aircrafts in the inventory flying with two of the newest aircraft in the inventory," he added.

Maj Michael Hansen has helped to organise the Masters of the Air actors in the flypast

In total the flypast will include 36 aircrafts and the UK's Red Arrows.

Maj Michael Hansen, also from RAF Mildenhall, will similarly be a part of the KC-135's flypast.

He said it was "humbling" to be a part of the experience.

"It could be the last time many of the World War Two veterans are with us on a major milestone so it's really amazing to be a part of it," he explained.

"I think flyovers are important not only for the people flying it, but the people on the ground.

"It represents our ability to put the aircraft in the air with very specific times to get it over, so it shows the dedication of the air crew."

The RAF Mildenhall servicemen will fly a KC-135 in the D-Day 80th anniversary flypast in Normandy

The 100th Air Refuelling Wing was known as the 100th Bombardment Group during World War Two and sent over from the US to support the allies.

Col Garlow added he had "a lot of pride" in being the squadron's "living legacy".

The 100th Bombardment's war experiences were detailed in the Apple series, Masters of the Air.

• Masters of the Air: The story behind the Apple TV drama

Eight actors from the television drama will join Col Garlow, Maj Hansen and the rest of the crew during the flypast.

"It'll be a great opportunity to link the heritage and the show's portrayal of that to the modern 100th," Col Garlow said.

"Using that show really helps as a bridge telling our modern story - we're still here, we're still protecting freedoms, and we're still great partners with the United Kingdom."