WWII RAF veteran to take to the skies before her 100th birthday
Kate Orchard who previously worked as a plotter will fly to raise money for Help for Heroes
Last updated 19th Apr 2022
A 99-year-old former World War II RAF plotter is set to fly in a glider to raise money for Help for Heroes.
Kate Orchard, who lives in Camborne, Cornwall, will take flight on Monday 18th April, at the Seahawk Gliding Club at RNAS Culdrose. It's her third ride ahead of her 100th birthday later this month.
She said: “I had a flight a few years ago, where I was allowed to take the controls for a while, which was most enjoyable. And I’m looking forward to repeating the experience while raising money for Help for Heroes.
She told us the experience wasn't as scary as some others might think.
"Some friends have said Kate, aren't you scared? I've said no what do you want to be scared for, you're safe up there. I found it almost exhilarating up there to look around for miles around you see all the countryside.
"I think the more reason why you don't feel scared is you do it for a good cause not just for your pleasure but you're raising funds to help other people which is a good way to think of it and it takes all your fear away then.
"Once you're up there you think, I'll do it again".
She said she's chosen the charity after being in the RAF herself: “I believe passionately that it’s very important that all ex-military personnel are looked after, especially those unfortunate enough to have physical or psychological injuries".
When Kate was 20, herself and two of her sisters volunteered with the Women's Auxilary Corps India recruiting women to help the war effort.
Later Kate moved on to work as a plotter on 24-hour watches, plotting aircraft targets and sending signals to the air warning systems.
She then rose to the rank of Warrant Officer First Class and started to train new plotters/watchers in India before moving to her husband, Bill's, home in Cornwall in 1946.
John Carpenter, Help for Heroes', said: “Kate is a truly amazing lady, full of spirit – but I suppose we should expect nothing less of the generation that served us so well during our darkest days.
“And for her to do this to help support the service personnel who followed in her footsteps is a wonderful gesture. Our veterans inspire us on a daily basis and, I’m sure, in turn, they will be inspired by this remarkable lady. We can only thank her from the bottom of our hearts and hope she enjoys the experience enormously. Something tells me she certainly will".