BERNARD Mabey is proud to have played a significant part in the Royal Air Force’s long existence.

The RAF celebrated its 100th birthday earlier this week, giving veterans a perfect opportunity to reflect on the time they served their country.

Bernard, who now lives in Arlington Road, Southend, is 92 years old.

But he still remembers his four year stint in the RAF, which began during World War II, as if it were yesterday.

Bernard said: “I was born in November 1925 and I was called up in November 1943 – just after my 18th birthday.

“In those days, it was conscription. I didn’t volunteer.

“I went to Cardington, in Bedfordshire, to get my uniform, before heading to Skegness.

“We were in empty hotels and then after that I went to Weston-super-Mare, in Somerset, where I trained as a flight mechanic.”

Bernard was a member of Bomber Command, which controlled the RAF’s bomber forces from 1936 until 1968.

Having already enjoyed stints in various parts of the country during his early years in the RAF, Bernard went onto travel to all four corners of England.

“After I did my flight mechanic training, I was sent to Marston Moor in Yorkshire and there was the Halifax Bombers there,” said Bernard, who was born in Canning Town. He added: “That was where I was ground crew.

“We had no heating – just a fire – no running water and no toilets. All we had were two blankets.

“I was there until VE Day and then Bomber Command had to be dumbed down a bit.

“I was in Wilmington for three months. We had to maintain the aircrafts and then the atomic bomb was dropped on Hiroshima, Japan in 1945.

“We took part in the Victory Parade in London.”

While Bernard looks back on the majority of his time as a member of the RAF with great fondness, one job frustrated him.

He said: “I worked in a workshop and that was a total bore because I was used to going out and working. I also went to RAF Membury, in Berkshire, and I travelled to near Salisbury before finishing my stint in 1947.”

Bernard is now a member of the armed forces charity, Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Families Association known as SSAFA.

The veteran visits the Southend centre on a weekly basis and it brings back happy memories of serving his country.

Bernard admitted: “I was in the RAF for just four years, but you miss it in a way. I think the association is very good. I lost my wife six or seven years ago and I now look forward to going out to the association once a week.

“There are seven of us in the Southend branch that were involved in World War II, but they were all naval or soldiers and I’m the only one from the RAF.

“Going to the association is one of the best things I have done in recent years.”

While the RAF has just turned 100 years old, changes are still taking place.

The amount of women representing their country is on the rise.

And Hannah Carter, of Essex Army Cadet Force, is delighted.

Hannah said: “We boast a wide range of backgrounds and both genders are represented.”