That i would shirk nothing. I wouldnt surrender. If i had to have my little fight with the germans on my own, i would do it and die. That i would be true to the traditions that had grown up around our kind of unit, and i would pay the price if necessary. D day was a low leveljump from a dakota plane. Today, harry will exit the same aircraft type, but will freefall attached to one of the red devils display team. He has done one before, last autumn, but was 94 then. Now he is 95, but still young at heart. Its going to be cool to see his reactions, jumping out of a plane, out of the same area that he jumped. All these stories that we hear about about guysjumping in in world war ii, its going to be amazing to see his reaction. Its amazing with all that time, as long ago as it was, the amount of detail that he still remembered. And that was that was quite amazing. Airborne troops talk of a brotherhood, a unique bond the same for these young men today as it was for the tens of thousands of young men three quarters of a century ago. And our very special guest, harry is with us this morning, and a couple of the red devils. They will be jumping with harry and another vetera n, jumping with harry and another veteran, dot cotton, laterthis afternoon, weather permitting. Harry, theres the dakota. You have probably jock hutton. There is the dakota, harry, what does it feel like to be that close to the old bird again . I know you called it an old bird, but to me, it is a piece of magic. We started off with the old 100 page woodley, you know, where it was so primitive, it was unbelievable. Then we advanced from that to, what was it . The albemarle . We had to hop out because it was not deep enough for us to stand. And then lo and behold, due to american generosity, we found ourselves jumping like gentlemen out of this. When you reckon, 193a, i think, jumping like gentlemen out of this. When you reckon, 193a, ithink, this model was designed. We in this country were still experimenting with three wing aircraft that were tied together with string. The americans brought this out and, oh, it may jumping so americans brought this out and, oh, it mayjumping so much more pleasant. And you will be jumping again this afternoon. I think it will be your 18th jump, isnt it . Why are you so keen to get back up there because its not my aim teen some its on my 19. I beg your pardon. You must not deny me my lastjump pardon. You must not deny me my last jump was on pardon. You must not deny me my lastjump was on d day. I beg your pardon, on d day, that was my 17th jump. Then, i had this desire, which i believe was a god given desire, to doa i believe was a god given desire, to do a tandem jump. I checked up to see. I was told i was going to be jumping with the red devils and i checked up on the box to see what the red devils did and they did not seem to do low leveljumps, they did high level stuff which i had never done. It seemed ridiculous to me to face the Great British public and beyond, not having had the experience of a high leveljump. So you did a warm up. I did, i did a warm up. A skydive. Yeah. It was brilliant, absolutely brilliant. And so brilliant, absolutely brilliant. And so that was my 18th. So this one is my 19th. Yeah, well, lets kopites enjoyable, which im sure it will be and takes place as well. Hope its enjoyable. Mike, some valuable cargo strapped to your front this afternoon. Yes, its a great pleasure for myself and nathan, it is very humbling. Thank you, gentlemen. It was great to spend some time with you the other day, the bond is so obvious and lots of the bond is so obvious and lots of the same kind of trials and tribulations that they faced in the infa ncy of tribulations that they faced in the infancy of airborne warfare, the same kind of thing you do today. Yes, a similar role, obviously, there is no one shooting back at us these days, thankfully. But the role is still the same, nothing has changed, the mentality of the paratrooper. They could away is missed, of course. Lets up so gentlemen, all the very best for later. Harry, its been a real privilege to meet you and hear your story. Thank you so much, and guys, all the best for later this afternoon. There we are, harry reid, what a gentleman, a true legend, i think it is fair enough to use that phrase and from duxford, back to dan in portsmouth. Thanks, john, weve had some incredible heroes on the Programme Today. And thank you for being a pa rt today. And thank you for being a part of it as well. All week weve been asking you to send in your pictures and family stories of d day and those who took part. John laslett was a gunner in the royal navy and went out on mine sweeping patrols along french coast in the months leading up to d day to keep the channel clear of mines for the ships that were coming across. His son keith laslett said they were constantly under fire from german aircraft and shore batteries. Roy smart drove a sherman tank ashore on sword beach at the start of the d day landings. He was in the east riding yeomanry. A few years ago he received the legion dhonneur from the french government. Jonathan leafe sent in these photos to show how how proud he is of his uncle and all the mates he lost in world war two. I think those memories and photographs have been very much part of what we have been trying to bring you a flavour of today. Now we are joined by the historian giles milton, who, iwas joined by the historian giles milton, who, i was talking to earlier about some of the detail around d day and also mick gentry, warrant officer mick gentry, your official title and most people today have been talking about their grandfathers who took part in d day but it was your father who was involved in the second wave of men to get to normandy. What did he do . Yes, my father landed with the oxford and bucks light infantry, the vast bucks battalion on sword beach on the second wave on d day, he was dropped on a sand bank and when they lowered the ramp, they went straight into six foot of water. Like several men on that day, i would think, he spent the early pa rt i would think, he spent the early part of the day soaking wet. What is incredible, speaking to harold and the others we have spoken to today, for many years, nobody talked about it, because of, i suppose, for many years, nobody talked about it, because of, isuppose, shell shock, what they saw, the people they lost, the friends they never saw again after that day and the weeks of campaigns after that as well. How often did your dad. Was he able to say what he had seen and what he did . Know, like all the others, he said very little about his experiences. Just enough for us to understand that it was quite a traumatic experience for him. And many, giles, went through that, and only now, in their late 90s, some of those here today, are enjoying spending time with the others who we re spending time with the others who were also part of d day, 75 years ago. It was such a collaborative effort, probably the biggest secret anyone has had to keep in this country, and in canada and america as well, such a huge operation. Country, and in canada and america as well, such a huge operationm is quite amazing that the germans never. Is quite amazing that the germans never. They knew the invasion was coming but they had no idea when and where. It is interesting talking about the stories because traditionally, for many years, the stories of d day that we know were written down by the officer class and the generals and we never really heard the voices of the young, the teenage conscripts in the first and second waves to land on the beaches. You know, it was absolutely terrifying for them. They were in a Landing Craft, the ramp goes down and either they landed water that is too deep and they sink to the bottom because they are carrying incredibly heavy packs, or they have to fight their way ashore under heavy machine gun fire. Their way ashore under heavy machinegun fire. We talk about the fa ct machinegun fire. We talk about the fact d day was a success but only 1596 fact d day was a success but only 15 of paratroopers landed in the right place and there were mistakes made on both sides. But if you are assessing it from a german perspective, so many generals thought this was not the day, this was not the invasion or they were going to attack calais which was pa rt going to attack calais which was part of the big diversion. This was a brilliant deception, operation fortitude was about trying to convince the germans we would land in calais and make them believe that. Field marshal rommel, who was in charge of the german Army Northern france, his idea was to hit the allies hard and fast. They had to be attacked while they were landing, were seasick and terrified. But of course, the panzer divisions could not be released without hitlers orders and he was fast asleep in bavaria and knew nothing about the landing is taking place. Amazing to think about what was going on in a high level of german command 75 years ago. But today is not about the commanders, mick, is it . Its about the 300 veterans here today remembering and also those who lost their lives then but have died since, as your dad, who has passed away in recent years. He passed away in 1992. For me, away in recent years. He passed away in1992. For me, im away in recent years. He passed away in 1992. For me, im very proud of what my father did and of course, i think my father likewise would be very proud of what the country is doing today, to commemorate those events 75 years ago. That is the essential thing is we see the picture of your dad, that we continue to tell the stories of him in the many others because these vetera ns a re in the many others because these veterans are 95, 94, 96, and we may not get the opportunity to have another huge commemoration like this because there wont be many of these amazing men left. No, we need to commemorate it, and capture their stories while we can. Looking back on 75 years on that tomorrow we will be live in normandy reflecting on the actual landings, it is interesting as well to think about the fact that not many of these men knew what they were doing, they knew they were sat in boats out on the solent and on the other side of the isle of wight, thousands of ships and planes going across but it was ten weeks of some of the most intense fighting we have ever seen on the planet to achieve a freedom which we all celebrate today. On the planet to achieve a freedom which we all celebrate todaym on the planet to achieve a freedom which we all celebrate today. It is incredible, we talked about security earlier, the security was such that even the men did not know where they we re even the men did not know where they were landing until they were crossing the channel, they were told they would be landing on a beach and look out for certain houses on the foreshore. It was extraordinary, they were almost going in blind and many of them had never been in combat before or even fired a gun in angus. Of course you had the elite commandos and men like that but a gun in anger. But many of them were not really ready and poorly trained. Really appreciate both of your reflections this morning and its going to be a poignant and emotional day for many in portsmouth as well, i think. When you think about the history, by the end of d day, by the end of tomorrow, back in 1944, there we re end of tomorrow, back in 1944, there were 55 miles of french coastline that the allied forces had got to, some of them had got several miles inland, over 140,000 men some of them had got several miles inland, over140,000 men had made some of them had got several miles inland, over 140,000 men had made it there and within a year, hitler was dead and the war was over, and that is what remembering d day is all about. Thank you for taking part in oui about. Thank you for taking part in our Programme Today and to all of our Programme Today and to all of our guests and the many messages and memories you have shared with us as well. We will leave you with these words from general dwight d eisenhower, a little reflection on the man who was the commander of the allied Expeditionary Forces in europe, as he rallied the troops before they set out across the channel in the fight forfreedom. Soldiers, sailors and airmen of the allied expeditionary force, you are about to embark upon the great crusade, toward which we have striven these many months. The eyes of the world are upon you. Your task will not be an easy one. Your enemy is well trained, well equipped and battle hardened. He will fight savagely. The tide has turned. The free men of the world are marching together to victory. I have full confidence in your courage, devotion to duty and skill in battle. We will accept nothing less than full victory. Good luck, and let us all beseech the blessing of almighty god upon this great and noble undertaking. Youre watching bbc news with me Annita Mcveigh the headlines. Commemorating the 75th anniversary of the d day landings the queen will be joined in portsmouth by theresa may, President Trump, and other World Leaders, to remember the allied invasion of nazi occupied france. The heroes of d day, the veterans who are now over 90 years old have arrived in france ahead of the anniversary. Well bring you full coverage of the d day commemorations, live from 11 15am. President trump back tracks from his suggestion that the nhs should be part of a trade deal between the us and uk after brexit. I dont see it being on the table. Somebody asked me a question today, and i say everythings up for negotiation, because everything is, but i dont see that being, that something that i would not consider part of trade. Thats not trade. Conservative leadership candidate Boris Johnson says the party faces extinction if it fails to deliver brexit by the end of october. Police raid the headquarters of the Australian Broadcasting corporation over concerns about an investigation into alleged misconduct by Australian Special forces in afghanistan. Sir philip greens retail group, arcadia, faces a crucial meeting as it tries to avoid administration. Good morning and welcome to the bbc news at nine. President trump appears to have retreated from his suggestion yesterday that the National Health service would be on the table for trade negotiations in a post brexit deal between the us and uk. The remark prompted a backlash from conservative leadership candidates, labour and the trade unions. In an interview with piers morgan for Good Morning Britain on itv the president was also asked if he could see himself working with labour leader Jeremy Corbyn in the future, despite turning down a request for a meeting yesterday. Its always possible. Anythings possible. I dont know him. He wanted to meet, it was very tough to meet, and probably inappropriate to meet, to be honest with you. A lot of things are happening right now with respect to our country, and your country, my country, and lets call them almost the same, because i feel that way. Its really a tremendous relationship. So, i didnt think it was appropriate to meet him, but i would, i certainly would. Id have no problem with that. I think its a long shot when you say that, you know, i dont think its going to happen. No leader, it seems to me, would allow britain to effectively sell the nhs as part of a trade deal. Would you as the american president see that as a deal breaker, if none of the nhs was on the table . I dont see it being on the table. Somebody asked me a question today, and i say everythings up for negotiation, because everything is, but i dont see that being, thats something that i would not consider part of trade. Thats not trade. The president also defended the comments he made about the duchess of sussex in a newspaper interview ahead of his arrival in the uk. And they said some of the things that she said and it is actually on tape. Isaid, that she said and it is actually on tape. I said, i that she said and it is actually on tape. Isaid, i didnt that she said and it is actually on tape. I said, i didnt know she was nasty. I was referring to she was nasty. I was referring to she was nasty about me. I didnt know she was nasty about me. But you know what, she is doing a good job and i hope she enjoys her life. Sion what you think of her. I dont know her. I have to be honest. But it shows you how terrible the news can be because if you read it, that was not about nasty. It was a little bit ambiguous. I dont mind clearing up because you hear it, they released the type and cnn and some of the other phonies went out and took the type and they even tried to take it from that. They talked about nasty but we were talking about nasty, she was nasty to me and that its ok for her to be nasty to me, its not good for me to be nasty to her and i wasnt. I think she is doing well. This morning President Trump took to twitter to comment on protests against his visit calling them organised flops. He said. I kept hearing that there would be massive rallies against me in the uk, but it was quite the opposite. He goes on to say that he found big crowds gathered in support of himself and the usa. He said these were big enthusiastic as opposed to what he calls the organized flops borisjohnson, the conservative mp and frontrunner to replace theresa may as Prime Minister, has said the party faces extinction if it fails to deliver brexit by the end of october. He made the comment at a hustings debate with other leadership contenders in westminster last night. Housing minister Kit Malthouse and brexit ministerjames cleverly have pulled out of the contest, leaving 11 still in the running. Lets hear more from our assistant Political Editor norman smith. Good morning to you. How much do you think borisjohnson saying the party faces extinction will worry the conservative membership who will decide between the final two candidates . He clearly hopes it will focus minds over the scale of the challenge the party now faces in the wa ke challenge the party now faces in the wake of the european elections, in the wake of its failure to deliver brexit, and to look to him almost as the saviour, the man who can rescue the saviour, the man who can rescue the party from what he thinks is an existential threat to its survival. His pitch at a hustings last night organised by the one nation group of tory mps, these are sort of middle ground centrist tory mps including many remainers, was that faced with this looming disaster only he can secure some sort of brexit steel which first off would enable the tories too in his words put nigel farage back in his box and then to get brexit dealt with. Enabling the party he believes to return to its one nation values, to re eng