FAMILY and friends have been mourning a decorated war hero who died at the weekend aged 90.

Spitfire ace Squadron Leader George Bennions, of Catterick, North Yorkshire, was one of the Battle of Britain pilots, with 12 successes to his credit.

But, on the day of his last victory, he was shot down.

He was due to go on leave on October 1, 1940, but, after learning he had been awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross, decided to fly one more sortie to try to take his tally of downed enemy aircraft to a dozen.

He managed to line up a German plane in his sights but, while he concentrated on his target, he was attacked by a Messerschmitt 109.

A shell from the German fighter exploded in the cockpit of his Spitfire, blinding him in one eye.

He managed to parachute to safety, but his flying career with the RAF was over.

He took up a post as an RAF liaison officer working with US Forces in the Mediterranean.

Wounded again during the landings on Corsica, he retired from service at the end of the war and, by 1946, was working as a teacher.

Friend and author Ken Chester described Sqn Ldr Bennions, who has a street named after him in Catterick, as an absolute gentleman.

Sqn Ldr Bennions, who was widowed, leaves daughters Connie, Shirley and Georgina and a grandson, David.

A funeral service will be at 11am on Saturday at St Anne's Parish Church, in Catterick Village.