ALMOST exactly 64 years after a Second World War Spitfire pilot took his first solo flight, he proudly watched his grandson take to the air by himself for the first time.

Former RAF pilot Len Thorne, who was in the thick of action over wartime France, was delighted when his grandson Andrew Griffin, 30, took his first solo flight at Wellesbourne airfield two weeks ago.

For Mr Thorne, 84, it rekindled memories of his own first solo venture into the air in a Tiger Moth in the dark days of October 1940.

Mr Griffin is a warrant officer and drill instructor at Studley Air Training Corps.

"I've wanted to fly from an early age, inspired by Grandpa," said Mr Griffin.

"But I only found out he was at the airfield when I came in to land, so that really made the day.

"It was a great flight. The freedom of being up there by yourself is amazing."

Mr Thorne had encouraged his grandson all the way and supported his flying lessons

"I was tickled pink to see him up there," said Mr Thorne, of New End, Astwood Bank.

"And I watched with great interest as he came into land." He added: "I've accepted that my flying days are probably over but I've enjoyed supporting Andrew with his lessons. I'm immensely proud of him."

Mr Thorne took his own maiden solo flight on October 29, 1940, after 14 hours and 35 minutes of instruction.

He said: "I remember the instructor detached his control column, got out of the aircraft on the runway, and waved me off."

He later joined 41 Squadron and 602 Squadron, clashing with the Luftwaffe over France in 1941 and 1942.

Afterwards he transferred to the Air Fighting Development Unit at RAF Duxford in Cambridgeshire, test-flying captured German aircraft and scores of other Allied planes.