TWO Second World War veterans postponed their finest hour at an air show in the Channel Islands when stormy weather threatened their mission.

The Lancaster bomber and Spitfire fighter escort, en route to Jersey, were unable to outmanoeuvre 33-knot winds which threatened to blow them into the North Atlantic.

The bomber, nicknamed Mickey the Moocher, and the Spitfire, called The Last, sought permission to land at Bournemouth Airport and rest up overnight at a hangar provided by FR Aviation.

Then it was chocks away for the pair from the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight, who were back in action yesterday and eager to take to the skies.

A spokesman for FR Aviation, whose fleet of Falcon 20 aircraft provide air training for the Royal Navy and the Royal Air Force, said: "The BBMF crew, led by Squadron Leader Paul Willis, who flies the Spitfire, and his team have stopped off at FR Aviation for support and assistance several times in recent years."

The bomber is one of only two remaining airworthy Lancasters in the world and is painted in the livery of Mickey the Moocher from 61 Squadron, which survived more than 100 missions.

The Spitfire is called The Last in memory of a Spitfire from 81 Squadron, which was based in Singapore and flew the last operational sortie by an RAF Spitfire in 1954 - taking photographs of an area of jungle used as a hideout for guerrillas.

After performing in flying displays in Guernsey and Jersey, the team will head back to their RAF Coningsby base.

The BBMF operates five Spitfires, two Hurricanes, a Lancaster, Dakota and the last two operational Chipmunks in the RAF.

First published: Sept 10