ONE OF "THE FEW"

He's one "the Few"
who's still in view,
though not seen a lot
as when they were "hot"
in poster appeal
and wartime newsreel,
for part they did play
in keeping away
attempts to invade -
rained off Goering's parade
that might have been staged
had we become caged
with the occupied
lands in Europe wide.
 
His medals are the
signs of past glory,
though at great risk earned -
so many crashed, burned
quite literally,
even lost in sea.
Older age has claimed
the rest - maimed, unmaimed -
like leaves of a tree,
withered, fell gently.