Farnham pensioner Richard Wetherall took flight in a Spitfire after entering the Daily Express charity contest on behalf of the RAF Benevolent Fund, the RAF’s leading welfare charity

Richard Wetherall, 75, from Farnham, was one of two lucky entrants who won the opportunity to take to the skies in a Spitfire flight from the Biggin Hill Heritage Hangar in Kent.

The Daily Express partnered with flyaspitfire.com to run the competition, which was free to enter, with entrants encouraged to kindly donate to the RAF Benevolent Fund. The annual event has helped raise more than £20,000 for the Fund.

Richard took to the controls of the Spitfire to experience the flight of a lifetime in the famous aircraft from the Battle of Britain station made famous in the film of the same name.

Richard, whose father was in the RAF in the Second World War as an aerial photographer, was overjoyed to win the competition.

He said: “I never expected to ever fly in a Spitfire! It took me a while to believe it was actually true.

“The day was perfect. The weather was wonderful, and we all enjoyed our day. My wife Jakki, two sons and their partners all flew in the chase plane. It was an experience we will never forget!”

The RAF Benevolent Fund provides financial, emotional, and practical assistance to serving and retired RAF personnel and their families. 

This includes grants to help with financial difficulty, free memberships for Headspace mental health support, youth clubs, and more.