Tributes paid to top WWII pilot

Alex Henshaw flew his first Spitfire on his birthday in 1936

A historian has paid tribute to one of Britain's wartime pilots.

Alex Henshaw of Newmarket, Suffolk, died at the age of 94 earlier this week. He was best known as a test pilot on Spitfires during World War II.

Defence chiefs prevented Henshaw from fighting in the war because he was considered too valuable.

Bill Bond, founder of the Battle of Britain Society, said Mr Henshaw may have been the greatest pilot Britain had seen.

"He may not have been as well known as fighter pilots like Douglas Bader," said Mr Bond.

"He was a test pilot but his contribution to the war was as great as anyone and he may have been the greatest pilot there was.

Mr Henshaw flew a Spitfire as recently as March 2006

"He was a wonderful man from a wonderful generation and he should never be forgotten.

"I used to talk to him three or four times a year - he was a lovely man and I shall miss him greatly."

Mr Henshaw was Chief Test Pilot at the Spitfire factory in Castle Bromwich near Birmingham, and is thought to have flown more Spitfires than anyone else.

He is thought to be the only pilot to roll a Lancaster Bomber and was said to have brought the centre of Birmingham to a standstill on one occasion by flying a Spitfire upside down, feet above rooftops.

As recently as March 2006 he flew a Spitfire as part of the 70th anniversary of the aircraft's creation.