Richard "Dick" Skepper, a World War II RAF veteran, was honored with over 1,000 birthday cards from across the globe as he celebrated his 100th birthday.

The heartwarming gesture followed an appeal by the RAF Association, resulting in cards arriving from three different continents.

Mr. Skepper, who joined the Royal Air Force at the age of 18 when the war began, expressed deep gratitude for the outpouring of well-wishes. His son, David, shared that the cards came from people of all ages, with some as young as six months and others in their nineties.

"We’ve received cards from Australia, North and Central America, and numerous European countries," David said. "Dad has been overwhelmed by the sheer volume of cards and deeply touched by the time and effort people have taken to thank him for his service."

Mr. Skepper celebrated his milestone birthday at the end of June with a garden party at Kineton Manor Nursing Home in Warwickshire, surrounded by family and friends. David added, "Well-wishers have invested so much of their time, and my dad has been truly humbled by the care and love shown to him in every single card. He has read every message, enjoyed the variety of cards, and been amazed by their origins."

Mr. Skepper's remarkable life includes a distinguished service record. He completed recruit training in October 1942 and was posted to 99 Maintenance Unit at RAF High Ercall in Shropshire. By February 1943, he qualified as a flight mechanic and served with 7 Squadron under Bomber Command at RAF Oakington in Cambridgeshire. He worked on Stirlings and later Lancaster bombers, with the Lancaster remaining his favorite aircraft.

Mr. Skepper served alongside his brothers, Alec and Geoffrey, who were also in Bomber Command. All three brothers survived the war and returned home to be reunited with their two sisters. Sadly, all of Mr. Skepper's siblings have since passed away.

After the war, Mr. Skepper spent most of his life working on engines and other mechanical parts. He married Irene in June 1945, and the couple settled in Luton, where they had their son, David. In their later years, Mr. and Mrs. Skepper moved to Kineton Manor Nursing Home to be closer to David and his family. Irene passed away in August 2018.

Mr. Skepper's 100th birthday was made truly special by the global response to the RAF Association's appeal, creating lasting memories for him as he embarks on his 101st year. Photo by Hensser H (Mr), Royal Air Force official photographer, Wikimedia commons.