IT is one of the aircraft credited with turning the tide of the Second World War.

Now, 70 years after the Spitfire's role in the Battle of Britain, an RAF veteran from Hull has been reunited with one of the surviving fighter planes.

John Amer, 87, was a Spitfire airframe fitter during the war – but crashed one of the aircraft when he attempted to fly it.

The remarkable story was unearthed by a health worker caring for Mr Amer and led to the trip to see a Spitfire.

Mr Amer, who has dementia and is a resident at Windermere House Independent Hospital, Birkdale Way, east Hull, was reunited with the aircraft thanks to hospital manager Paul Baker.

Mr Baker said: "When he moved here, his previous care home advised that he had 'fanciful ideas' about crashing a Spitfire during the last world war.

"Past life histories are very important to a person experiencing dementia so I wanted to separate fact from fiction."

With Mr Amer's permission, Mr Baker applied for his RAF service records using his name and date of birth.

The information revealed Mr Amer served as a fitter and air traffic controller and, at one point, was stationed at RAF Hawkinge in Kent at the height of the Battle of Britain.

He did attempt to fly a Spitfire MK11A on November 29, 1940, which subsequently crashed.

It led to Mr Amer being jailed.

But incarceration only lasted a few days as his skills were desperately needed during the war.

Mr Baker organised a VIP visit to the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight Centre, RAF Coningsby, Lincolnshire, to see a Spitfire.

Mr Baker, from Withernsea, has been named Memory Lane Champion at national care provider Barchester Healthcare's Care Awards 2010 for his work with Mr Amer.