A CHANCE meeting between holidaymakers on an airliner has led to the collection of a former RAF pilot being placed into the care of Pembroke Dock Heritage Centre.

Returning from a holiday in Thailand, John Greer, of Saundersfoot, got into conversation with fellow traveller Duncan Thomas, of Marlow, Buckinghamshire.

When Duncan learned that John was from Pembrokeshire, a special family connection with Pembroke Dock and Sunderland flying boats was revealed.

John passed on Duncan’s contact details to the Heritage Centre and a visit to Pembroke Dock by Duncan and his wife, Fiona, was soon arranged.

“It was a long flight home from Thailand and I got talking to Duncan who, on hearing I was from Pembrokeshire, spoke about his father’s connections with Sunderlands and Pembroke Dock. I told him about the Heritage Centre and how the Sunderland story is remembered there,” said John.

Duncan said: “My father, William Kenneth Thomas, was born in Llanelli and joined the RAF in 1937. He became a pilot in 1942 and flew Sunderlands with three RAF squadrons during and after the war. He was stationed at Pembroke Dock for a time.

“He died a few years ago and I have been looking for a suitable resting place for his log books, medals and photographs. When John told me about the Heritage Centre, and following contacts made there, I am so pleased to bring this collection to Pembroke Dock.”

The collection, on long term loan, will be digitalised and added to the centre’s archive.

Trustee John Evans said: “Again we are being honoured with very significant campaign medals and important historical documents and photographs. We are very grateful to Duncan, and also to John Greer for making the initial links. That chance meeting in the sky brought this all about.”