A former flight engineer during the Second World War is set to embark on another memorable flying experience.

Des Thomas, of St. Georges Street, Tenby, will set off from Haverfordwest Airport on Sunday, on the Over The Rainbow Dream Come True charity's 'flight of a lifetime', organised by fundraiser Peter Kraus, who set up the charity in 1999.

Des, who comes from a very old Tenby family, served with the Tenby Fire Brigade for 30 years, and was station officer for a large part of that time, receiving the BEM for his services in 1972.

One of his ancestors, Walter Eynon, was Mayor of the town in 1461.

During his time in service, Des was a flight engineer with 460 Squadron RAAF, the rest of the aircrew being Australian.

He was with the Special Duty Flight of 460 Squadron and completed 33 operations with the Squadron, including the raid on Berlin on March 24, 1944, and Nuremberg on March 30.

The Nuremberg raid was significant as being the costliest in terms of aircraft losses that RAF Bomber Command suffered in a single night attack during the Second World War.

Des, who went on to a second tour with 358 Squadron RAF - special duty, which involved operations over Malaya, Siam and French Indo-China, lost both his legs several years ago, and following two cases of septicemia and one of MRSA, spent a total of about seven months in hospital.

Following this, he spent some months recuperating and was then fitted with two artificial legs in Morriston Hospital.

He was told that these legs were to help with his balance in transferring, but were not really going to be strong enough for him to walk with them, but Des had other ideas and with the excellent care of the Physiotherapy Department at Tenby Hospital, he set about building up his strength.

With the hospital staff's encouragement and great expertise, plus many months of exercise on Des's part, the strength gradually came.

During this time, he was always helped and encouraged by his wife Joan, but in 2008 she passed away, and since that time, Des has lived on his own in a first floor flat and has daily help from qualified carers.

He is now able to get about with sticks and has an electric wheelchair which he uses around Tenby.

Des continues his weekly trips to the gym at the Physiotherapy Department in a trip that he really enjoys and always returns tired out, cheerfully admitting "they've fixed me today."

"Someone like Des should be recognised for all he has done during his very active life and it gives me a huge delight to help," explained organiser, Peter Kraus, whose Over The Rainbow Dream Come True charity has organised over 400 flights since 1999.

"So, on Sunday, our dear friend will be taking to the skies in a Bulldog aeroplane across Pembrokeshire and I hope that lots of his family and friends will be there to watch," he added.

On the day, there will also be an opportunity for Des to see a Spitfire Mark VIII being restored at the Haverfordwest Airport.