Terence Devey Smith says he would love to repeat his Buckingham Palace exploits for King Charles
"The main thing I remember is the excitement," he added.However, the flypast was delayed for hours and it was not clear if it would go ahead at all."You couldn't fly 300 aircraft in close formation over London. It would be criminal. But then, late in the afternoon, it started to clear.At 17:15 BST, he flew over Buckingham Palace at 345mph while the Queen took the salute from the balcony.
Sqn Ldr Smith said he had had to concentrate on flying, so was unable to see the crowds or the Queen from his plane. "If you let your eyes wander, you could start moving and you are trying to remain in close formation," he said. "I sensed we were flying past Buckingham Palace and I was on the extreme left-hand side of the formation so I could look across the formation and see Buckingham Palace in the background.
"It was terrific. It's the first time I have flown in front of the Queen. It was an enormous privilege."He went on to serve in 31 and 80 Squadrons and moved to RAF Cranwell, in Lincolnshire, in 1961."I'm very familiar with Cranwell and loved every minute of it," he said."It made me feel envious. I just hope the pilots enjoy it as much as I did because it will live with them - as it has with me - for years and years. It's something to remember.
United Kingdom Latest News, United Kingdom Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Man arrested after 'throwing shotgun cartridges into Buckingham Palace'A MAN has been arrested for throwing shotgun cartridges into the grounds of Buckingham Palace. An area around the royal home has been cordoned off after the attack at 7pm this evening – just …
Read more »
Massive police presence outside Buckingham Palace as man detainedBREAKING: Massive police presence outside Buckingham Palace as reports man detained
Read more »
Explosion heard at Buckingham Palace after man arrested for security breachBREAKING: Days before the coronation of King Charles III, police have arrested a man suspected of throwing shotgun cartridges into the grounds of Buckingham Palace.
Read more »
Buckingham Palace in lockdown as controlled explosion carried outIt comes four days before King Charles' Coronation
Read more »
Man arrested for 'throwing shotgun cartridges' into Buckingham Palace, as police carry out controlled explosionA man has been arrested after suspected shotgun cartridges were thrown into Buckingham Palace grounds, police have said.
Read more »
Man arrested outside Buckingham PalaceA controlled explosion was carried out after a man threw suspected shotgun cartridges into palace grounds.
Read more »