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Centenarians mark key birthday with Spitfire rides

GARETH FULLER/PA WIRE Queenie Hall and Dorothea BarronGARETH FULLER/PA WIRE
Robbie Hall (l) and Dorothea Barron, took the flight to mark their 100th birthdays

Two intrepid World War Two veterans have celebrated their 100th birthdays by flying in Spitfires.

Queenie Hall, known as Robbie, who has already reached the landmark, and Dorothea Barron, 99, whose birthday is next month, flew in two aircraft from the Biggin Hill Heritage Hangar in Westerham, Kent, on Thursday.

Ms Barron said: “It’s a beautiful little aircraft and I absolutely fell in love with it. I adored it up there and I did so enjoy it.”

Dick Goodwin, vice president of the Taxi Charity for Military Veterans, which organised the flights, said: “When they came down, you would think they did it every day!"

Mr Goodwin said the flights went "really well" for the pair, who also experienced a "couples of rolls".

“They were just full of the joys of it and chatting away, not a slightest bit of concern or anything," he added.

Ms Barron said: “My husband was in Coastal Command and then Bomber Command and he never flew in a Spitfire, but I did.”

GARETH FULLER/PA WIRE Ms Hall and Ms Barron sat in a Spitfire on ThursdayGARETH FULLER/PA WIRE
Ms Hall (left) served with the Women's Royal Air Force, while Ms Barron served with the Women's Royal Naval Service

Ms Barron served with the Women's Royal Naval Service from 1942-1945.

She taught semaphore - a visual signaling method allowing information to be conveyed at a distance - to troops ahead of D-Day and helped to test the Mulberry Harbours used in the invasion.

GARETH FULLER/PA WIRE Robbie and Dorothea on the two Spitfire flights on ThursdayGARETH FULLER/PA WIRE
Ms Hall said she “loved” her Spitfire flight - including flying upside down!

Ms Hall was one of the plotters serving with the Women’s Royal Air Force based with Bomber Command, at High Wycombe.

She said it was "absolutely wonderful" and "glorious" to fly in the Spitfire.

GARETH FULLER/PA WIRE Ms Barron and Ms Hall in military dressGARETH FULLER/PA WIRE
Ms Barron’s flight was a gift from Taxi Charity ambassador Johnny Gallagher for her birthday, while the Taxi Charity paid for Robbie to fly the other Spitfire

Both women are regulars on Taxi Charity trips.

Last weekend Ms Hall visited the Netherlands with the charity for Wandeltocht, the world's largest one-day commemorative march in remembrance of the Battle of Arnhem.

The charity, which was set up in 1948, is run by London taxi drivers and has supported thousands of veterans.

It provides entertainment and arranges free trips for veterans from various conflicts and days out to museums, concerts, or social events across the UK.

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