David Jackson, former British Flight Lieutenant stationed in The Gambia during the Second World War in 1943 recently arrived in The Gambia for a two-week visit.

In an interview with the Daily Observer yesterday, former British Flight Lieutenant, cum London Police Surgeon and Medical Journalist said he was 21-years-old- the youngest Flight Lieutenant in the Royal British Airforce.

According to him, their duty was to protect the convoy of British coming to The Gambia against any possible attack by the German submarines. “I also went to Sierra Leone on a tour of duty for a year. After the war, I went back to Britain to study medicine. In 2004, I came to The Gambia under a Heroes Return. This was the UK’S government arrangement to allow ex -servicemen to return to any place in the world where they had been based or engaged in active service. The idea was to show these areas of conflict to members of the service men’s family,” he said.

On his impression on infrastructural development in recent times, David Jackson said he is impressed with the progress being made in recent times. “The hospitality of Gambian is perfect. The roads are good. The Gambia from now on is my second home” he said. Mansi Jackson the wife of the former British Flight Lieutenant said on arrival in The Gambia, “I felt the goodness of Gambians. This country is a very religious country and the kindness of the Gambians is very rich and I look forward to visting this country every year,” she said.

Basiru Gassama, Chief Security at Sun Beach Hotel who accompanied the couple descibed them as good friends of The Gambia.