"They sacrificed so much for our freedom": Lowestoft man remembers D-Day
The country marks the 80th anniversary of the Normandy landings tomorrow
A man from Lowestoft whose friend flew during D-Day is telling is it's important we remember those who sacrificed so much.
Steven Arlow's been sharing his memories of Flight Commander Tony Cooper, who was part of the 64th Squadron, flying a spitfire during World War Two and on D-Day.
It comes as the country marks the 80th anniversary of the Normandy landings tomorrow.
Steven now travels around the country displaying replica Spitfire planes and teaching people about the history of the war: "They sacrificed so much for our freedom. They were put in a situation where they didn't have much choice, they had to fight.
"I think it's very important the younger generation learn these things. You can't erase history."
Tony's story
At 21 years old, Tony was accepted for pilot training with the RAF Volunteer Reserve.
After receiving above-average marks in his assessments, he became a flying instructor before going over to Canada from November 1940 until mid-1943.
He then returned to the UK in June 1943, completing a Spitfire Operational Training Unit course at Rednal, in Shropshire.
He was then posted to the 64th Squadron, flying Spitfires.
The Royal Airforce tells us Tony flew 3200 hours, completing 160 operational sorties.
He survived 5 forced landings - 2 at night, 2 on fire and one as a result by being hit by enemy ground fire.
He was involved in fighter and ground attack sorties during the build-up to D-Day and during the invasion, flying two sorties on 6th June 1944, providing fighter cover over Utah and Omaha beaches.
He continued to fly operationally until November 1944, completing numerous ground attack missions over enemy-occupied Europe, including supporting the famous and heroic, but ultimately unsuccessful, airborne operation at Arnhem.
He then lead a long life, before passing away 8 years ago, just 11 days before his 101st birthday.
"A character and a true gentleman "
Steven shared one of his favourite stories about Tony - when he flew to France and came back with grapes: "Tony had gone over to France and had an empty ammo base. so he collected some grapes and put them in his wings and flew them over the Channel.
"He got bounced by a ME109 (a German World War II fighter aircraft) but had nothing in his guns "so he outran the enemy plane".
"Upon returning he donated the grapes to the local hospital...
"He used to dart around in his sporty BMW... he loved his BMW - a German-made car but he was in love with it!"