D-Day veterans have once more seen a Spitfire fly over the beaches of Normandy, after a Pembury pilot took to the skies.
Peter Monk, founder of the Spitfire Company (Biggin Hill) Ltd, flew the Kent Spitfire, named Spirit of Kent, from Biggin Hill last week.

His flight was witnessed by those travelling to France to mark the start of the liberation of Europe 68 years ago.
For many of the surviving veterans – all in their 80s and 90s – it will be their last time they make the pilgrimage to the beaches, which were the scene of such heavy losses on June 6, 1944.

Mr Monk, who is also co-owner of the Biggin Hill Heritage Hangar and a former airline pilot, acquired his Mark 9 Spitfire TA805 in 1996. It had previously seen service with the RAF from 1944 till 1949 and with the South African Air Force from that year until 1954.

It is now flown as a flying memorial to all those who flew, built, maintained and were protected by the Spitfire during the Second World War.
Kentish folk will also get their chance to see the aircraft when it is on display at the Kent County Show in July, which is at the Kent Showground in Detling, once a wartime base itself.
On one of the days of the three-day event, it will also be joined by a Hurricane.