100th Birthday Bash for Bomber Command Veteran

"We feel very honoured to have Mr Rowlinson in our care, after all he has done for our country.”

Local war hero, Sgt Duncan Rowlinson, celebrated his 100th birthday earlier this month at Borovere Care Home in Alton, where he now lives.

The former Bomber Command member was joined on the big day by Sqn Leader John Plenty from RAF Odiham, who presented Sgt Rowlinson with a framed print of a Chinook Helicopter, signed by the entire 27th Sqn.

Other notable guests at Borovere included Flt Lt Shaun McCarthy from the Air Training Corps in Alton, Alton Town Mayor Pam Jones, Judy Brown from the Alton Branch of the Royal British Legion, Hampshire RAFA president David Chandler, and multiple members of the RAFA.

Karen Shepperdson, Home Manager at the Greensleeves Care operated home, said:

“It was absolutely right that Mr Rowlinson’s 100th birthday should be celebrated in this way, with such touching tributes to his astonishing life and career. We feel very honoured to have Mr Rowlinson in our care, after all he has done for our country.”

Sgt Rowlinson played an integral role in the Second World War. At age 20, he joined the RAF Volunteer Reserves as a wireless operator and air gunner. He went on to serve at RAF Bobbington, Silverstone and Turweston from 1942 – 1943.

In 1944 he become part of Number 5 Group, Bomber Command, at RAF Skellingthorpe in Lincolnshire, where he flew 19 bombing missions over enemy territory.

After the war, Sgt Rowlinson utilised his carpentry skills to building new homes and repairing those destroyed by bombs.

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