When my dad reached his eightieth birthday we decided to take him to the air show at the local aerodrome.
We knew he had been a fighter pilot during the war but had rarely mentioned anything about his time as a pilot.
By and large he didn’t have a lot to say about the war.
We thought on his birthday he might like to have a look at the aircraft he flew in all those years ago.
At the airfield he patiently followed us about the various aircraft showing minimal interest.
At last we came to the plane he had flown in.
He walked around it and looked carefully at every aspect of the craft.
Then he stood for a while looking into the cockpit.
It was clear he was at that moment lost in a memory he wasn’t going to share with us.
After a time he moved back, wiped away a tear, something I had never seen in my father, and headed off towards the car park.
As he strode past me I distinctly heard him say, ‘What a waste!’
Morpethroad 
Powerful. This piece says a lot, and says it beautifully.
Thank you so much that’s a lovely comment.
A powerful message.
Thank you RoSy. I appreciate your message.
Really lovely piece, captured the feelings of the ex-fighter pilot well.
Thank you MissK for reading my work I always appreciate your comments.
I hope the trip helped him make peace with his memory. Great story
Thanks Lewis for reading my work, I think it raised a few unpleasant memories he thought he had put behind him.
I am sure your dad was grateful that you took him. I believe it is hard to convey what you felt when you were in such circumstances. Where was he based?
Thanks Gabriella it is just a story, my actual dad was in New Guinea but his war time stories were similar with a similar attitude to the war.
It felt very real!
Thank you Gabriella, that’s a lovely comment to make. I always approach my writing with the purpose that I want my reader to respond in some way. Some pieces evoke an emotional response some create a sense of reality Whatever the purpose if I can get my readers to respond then I have succeeded. Other writers have created that scenario for me where I have believed their stories to be real. Though I think everything we write has a bit of us in it.
Yes, this did feel very real. A great story and tribute.
Thanks Freya as always lovely to receive your comment.
I was able to find your piece through the link at APF. I believe you have capture what many men have felt about war. My FIL was in WWII and I could say that you also speak for him.
Thank you for your honoralbe words.
Thanks Jules that is a lovely comment. My father was also in WW2 and never had anything good to say about it.