AIRMEN have been reunited after 50 years apart.

Jim Ryan, John Forbes, John Baskerville, John Carey and Hugh Curran all enlisted for a career in the Royal Air Force in the 1950s and were trained at RAF Hereford.

They met for the first time since they passed out of training at RAF Lyneham last Friday.

Mr Forbes said: “It was great the way they made us feel so welcome and were actually just as interested in how we ‘old boys’ did the job all those years ago as we were interested in how it is done today.”

The men joined up for 18 months trade training as boy entrants, some as young as 15 years of age.

They were five of 70 entrants joining up at that time for the supply trade.

After passing out on March 24 1961, they were all posted to various operational units around the UK and lost contact.

During the visit the men got to see various departments in action.

All of the group, with the exception of John Forbes, served at RAF Lyneham during their careers.

Although some of the men left the RAF after 12 years service while some stayed in service until the age of 55, all agreed it was a time they would never forget.

They also said it was sad that in a couple of years the home of the Hercules is set to close and move to RAF Brize Norton.

Mr Ryan added: “I am pleased that John Carey has come from Lincolnshire and John Baskerville from Ireland.

“Sadly many were unable to attend this reunion and some are still yet to be found.

“It is hoped that by launching our own web site for the 38th entrants many more can be found for the 50th anniversary of the passing out day.”