I'm not an aircrew meeting kind of chap, as a rule, but I did shake a hand that held the joystick of a Thunderbolt, 60 years to the day later. That day was D Day; I was at Duxford on June 6th, 2004. Lt Col Hayden Richards was there in 1944 and 2004.
And back then:
(Thanks to Tracey Woods, IWM DX PR for the historic shots.)
That Thunderbolt wasn't there, then, but the 'Grace' Spitfire was over those beaches on that day. Unlike most warbirds with D Day stripes, ML407, OU-V
earned hers. Getting to stand next to it then, 60 years on was special. Both Lt Col Richards and ML407 have changed a bit, but they are both (in very!) different ways living history and what it's all about.
Just an extra.