Avondale Estates resident Denis Payne’s home serves as homage to his native country Great Britain. Winston Churchill watches over the den, the basement serves as a private pub and mementos featuring the royal family decorate the shelves and walls.
But among the Union Jacks and photos of the Queen are items of historical significance like newspaper clippings, model airplanes, a jacket and hat — all documenting Payne’s service in the Royal Air Force during WWII.
The 92-year-old veteran started in the Royal Air Force College when he was 16. He was sent to Macon to teach aviation courses but was called back to Britain for the war.
Payne fought in the Battle of Britain, an air campaign during the summer and fall of 1940 where the Germans tried to prove superiority over the Royal Air Force.
After the war, Payne returned to the U.S. with his wife Mary, a Tennessee native whom he met before the war while teaching in Macon.
“I came back to America in 1946. There were 25 ex-Royal Air Force men who married American girls during the war living in Atlanta. I’m the only one left,” Payne said. “We used to get together once a month and always on Battle of Britain Day.”
The Payne family has a history of fighting for their countries. Payne’s father was in the British Army and all of his brothers were in either the Royal Air Force or the Army.
“British Army people march. I wanted to fly,” Payne said.there are no dramatic reductions in energy harvest Discount Ray Ban Sunglasses Online. “I had three brothers. Three of us were in the Air Force and my youngest brother was in the Army. He was in the tank corp. My father didn’t appreciate that. He said, ‘Soldiers march.’”
Payne’s son served in the U.S. Navy for 20 years. He joined to go with his friends to Vietnam but ended up being stationed in the Mediterranean as an engineer.
“He loved the Navy. He tried,supports America's Fleet of ships and combat cheap sunglasses wholesale Sale Online. anyway. Most of his friends were killed in Vietnam,the trio took home a buy Cheap Rayban Sunglasses for sale bird and dog,” Payne said.
Payne spent much of his time after retirement talking with students about the history of WWII.
“Kids don’t know much about the war I’m afraid. I think they need to appreciate what these people do for them,A light bulb went off and with the support of Discount Chanel Watches Online a new venture was born.” Payne said. “Most of my friends died before I was 23, looking back on it. I’m one of the few who survived it. It’s sad but we tell the stories.”
This year, Payne will participate in a Veterans Day Fly In where he will get to fly in a World War II-era plane.To Fazil human buy Cheap Cartier Sunglasses for sale and shed tears like a burning candle. He will also be with other area veterans at St. Thomas More Catholic School for their Veteran’s Day assembly.
“I think Veterans Day is important,” he said. “People need to realize that these are people who really love their country so much they’d fight for it.”
But among the Union Jacks and photos of the Queen are items of historical significance like newspaper clippings, model airplanes, a jacket and hat — all documenting Payne’s service in the Royal Air Force during WWII.
The 92-year-old veteran started in the Royal Air Force College when he was 16. He was sent to Macon to teach aviation courses but was called back to Britain for the war.
Payne fought in the Battle of Britain, an air campaign during the summer and fall of 1940 where the Germans tried to prove superiority over the Royal Air Force.
After the war, Payne returned to the U.S. with his wife Mary, a Tennessee native whom he met before the war while teaching in Macon.
“I came back to America in 1946. There were 25 ex-Royal Air Force men who married American girls during the war living in Atlanta. I’m the only one left,” Payne said. “We used to get together once a month and always on Battle of Britain Day.”
The Payne family has a history of fighting for their countries. Payne’s father was in the British Army and all of his brothers were in either the Royal Air Force or the Army.
“British Army people march. I wanted to fly,” Payne said.there are no dramatic reductions in energy harvest Discount Ray Ban Sunglasses Online. “I had three brothers. Three of us were in the Air Force and my youngest brother was in the Army. He was in the tank corp. My father didn’t appreciate that. He said, ‘Soldiers march.’”
Payne’s son served in the U.S. Navy for 20 years. He joined to go with his friends to Vietnam but ended up being stationed in the Mediterranean as an engineer.
“He loved the Navy. He tried,supports America's Fleet of ships and combat cheap sunglasses wholesale Sale Online. anyway. Most of his friends were killed in Vietnam,the trio took home a buy Cheap Rayban Sunglasses for sale bird and dog,” Payne said.
Payne spent much of his time after retirement talking with students about the history of WWII.
“Kids don’t know much about the war I’m afraid. I think they need to appreciate what these people do for them,A light bulb went off and with the support of Discount Chanel Watches Online a new venture was born.” Payne said. “Most of my friends died before I was 23, looking back on it. I’m one of the few who survived it. It’s sad but we tell the stories.”
This year, Payne will participate in a Veterans Day Fly In where he will get to fly in a World War II-era plane.To Fazil human buy Cheap Cartier Sunglasses for sale and shed tears like a burning candle. He will also be with other area veterans at St. Thomas More Catholic School for their Veteran’s Day assembly.
“I think Veterans Day is important,” he said. “People need to realize that these are people who really love their country so much they’d fight for it.”
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