Tributes have been paid to one of the last remaining WW2 Spitfire pilots who has died aged 99.

Dr Edmund Percival James volunteered to join the RAF at just 17 because he knew he would be called up.

He wanted to make sure he got in the service he wanted the RAF - and said he was inspired by 'Biggles' the fictional pilot.

Records show he flew the iconic Spitfire over Germany and France during with No. 288 Squadron between 1940 and 1946.

Known as 'Ted' the retired doctor died peacefully on Wednesday, February 2, just short of his 100th birthday.

He said he had been involved in a lot of combat mission fighting enemy planes but only had ''good memories'' about it.

Speaking previously, he said: "At 17, 18, 19 or 20 you don't think of it as being unnerving but you think of it as being exciting.

''I enjoyed it in a way. My memories are just pleasant.

"I know I lost a lot of friends at the time, but it helps if it's what you wanted to do. I wanted to be a pilot as I was inspired by Biggles."

In 2019 he hit the headlines after being left "devastated" after a sentimental photo signed by his fallen comrades was stolen from his home in Falmouth, Cornwall.

At the time of the theft, he said: "I was so angry. The picture was signed by my friends. Some of whom were killed and didn't get through."

The photo was never found, but Dr James was moved to tears of joy as Wing Commander Marshall Kinnear, Station Commander of RAF St Mawgan in Newquay, presented him with an almost identical framed photo signed with a very personal message from the Chief of the Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal Sir Mike Wigston KCB CBE ADC.

The RAF were able to track down a sequence of 16 photos from the Air Historical Branch taken only seconds apart, and found an almost identical match of the aerial shot that took pride of place his wall.

The Air Historical Branch also confirmed Dr James' Service Records as having flown the iconic Spitfire over Germany and France during the Second World War with No. 288 Squadron between 1940 and 1946.

Dr James was also presented with a personal letter from Johnny Mercer MP, Minister for Defence, People and Veterans.

Dr James was husband of Joan (deceased) and father of Lawrence, Adrian, and April, and dearest friend of Ena and John Robertson (deceased) and their families.

The Funeral Service will take place at 2pm today Wednesday, February 23, 2022 at Penmount Crematorium, Trelawny Chapel.

No flowers, but donations may be made, if desired, to Medecins Sans Frontieres c/o T.Cooke, Funeral Directors, 4, Quarry Hill, Falmouth, TR11 2BP.

The family's obituary stated they believed he was the ''last known spitfire pilot of the 2nd world war''

The death notice said: ''JAMES Dr Edmund Percival (Ted) Retired Medical practitioner and last known spitfire pilot of the 2nd world war.''

However, a spokesman for the Spitfire Society said Dr James was not the last remaining Spitfire pilot.

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