HE IS the Southampton-born pensioner who can remember watching the first Spitfires soar over the city in the 1930s.

Now 94-year-old Den Wood has achieved a lifelong ambition by taking to the skies in one of the famous fighter planes that helped win the Battle of Britain in 1940.

His flight was a birthday treat organised by Hampshire pilot Tom Graham as part of the RAF's centenary celebrations.

Den grew up in Southampton and remembers seeing some of the first Spitfires take to the air on test flights staged by its Woolston-based manufacturer, Supermarine.

He always dreamed of flying one but found himself assigned to Wellington bombers during the Second World War.

After the war he continued to fly planes in various parts of the world before working in local government until he retired.

Flown by former Harrier pilot Don Sigournay, the Spitfire took off from its home at Biggin Hill Heritage Hangar.

It was joined in the sky by a Piper Cherokee in a secret rendezvous arranged by Mr Graham to give Den the feeling of flying in formation in true wartime style.

Last year he was scheduled to go up in the Spitfire only to see the flight cancelled on doctor’s orders at the last minute.

But Den, who now lives in Yeovil, Somerset, is no stranger to flying.

Every year Mr Graham takes him from Thruxton Aerodrome to Project Propeller, an annual reunion of Second World War aircrew from all over the UK.

Basingstoke photographer Jamie Dunkley, who photographed Den's Spitfire flight, said: "It was a fabulous occasion.

"I only had a few minutes as it flew alongside but superb weather conditions made for a fantastic and exhilarating shoot.”