“HE was a modest hero who was an inspiration to us all.”

Those are the words being used to describe former Spitfire pilot Doug Gregory, who has lost a two-week battle for life after being involved in a hit-and-run accident near his Hampshire home.

Mr Gregory, 92, suffered serious head injuries in the collision at Hampton Lane, Blackfield, and died at Southampton General Hospital on Sunday.

As reported in the Daily Echo, he was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross after surviving almost 70 combat missions over Nazioccupied Europe during the Second World War. He also survived a brain haemorrhage in 1947.

Four decades later he built a 1917-style bi-plane and joined the Great War Display Team (GWDT), becoming Britain’s oldest stunt pilot.

Last night tributes were led by Julian Lewis, the Tory parliamentary candidate in New Forest East, who had known Mr Gregory for many years.

Dr Lewis, a former shadow defence minister, said: “After all the risks he took in defence of our country, it’s very sad indeed that his very long life should have come to an end in this way.

“He was the sort of modest hero who was an inspiration to us all.”

TheGWDT tweeted: “So sad that Doug’s passing was on a beautiful spring day that would have turned his eyes to the sky.”

Griffin Historical added: “Great guy. We enjoy our modern circumstances because of men like him.”

Mr Gregory left the RAF in 1946 and became an art teacher at two New Forest schools – Noadswood in North Road, Dibden Purlieu, and Hardley – now the New Forest Academy, in Long Lane, Holbury.

He later joined the GWDT before finally hanging up his flying goggles at the age of 90 in 2013.

Referring to his replica plane, built at a cost of £5,000 between 1983 and 1987, he said: “I will miss it terribly.

“It was a brilliant plane for doing stunts and lovely at aerobatics. When you get up there, turning upside down and everything, it is no trouble at all. It all comes out all right in the end.”

Last night Mr Gregory’s widow Liz was too upset to talk about the traumatic events of the past two weeks.

But a GWDT spokesman said: “Liz wishes to express her heartfelt thanks for all the support and messages of goodwill which have buoyed her up during this difficult time.”

Mr Gregory was knocked down outside the Murco petrol filling station on March 30 just after 7am.

He had just bought a paper at Blackfield Newsagents and Post Office and was walking home when the accident occurred. The former flying ace suffered serious head and pelvic injuries and later developed a chest infection.

The motorist involved in the collision later came forward and was interviewed under caution.

A police spokesman said an investigation was still under way. He added that no-one had been arrested or charged in connection with the crash.