A treasure hunt in Burma for 124 unassembled Second World War Spitfires drew a blank in February. Reporter REBECCA BURSNOLL spoke to a Dartford war veteran who could have told you that all along.

WHEN 98-year-old Albert Bennett published his memoirs in September last year, he wrote how there were never any spitfires buried in Burma.

But when Spitfire devotee David Cundall and his team began digging in January, Albert knew they were wasting their time from the start.

The hunt in Burma was called off in February after it was proved hopeless.

Mr Bennett, who lives in Tudor Road, said: "They were supposedly buried there, but I can’t remember any being left behind.

"I think they’ve given up searching now.

"I was first asked if I knew of any in the area six years ago.

"They say they can trace the spitfires - whether that’s just a tale or not, I don’t know."

The searches took place in Mingaladon, Burma, close to where Mr Bennett's squadron were based in Rangoon before the war ended.

Mr Bennett first joined the Royal Air Force (RAF) in 1941 at Kidbrooke and was soon working on the instruments of the legendary Spitfire planes.

The 155 Spitfire Squadron member said: "We used to work on them in 120 degree heat in India.

"We would start at 4am and finish at lunch time.

"After then the heat was terrific."

Mr Bennett was part of the first unit to arrive in Singapore that aided the evacuation of the notorious Changi prisoner of war camp.

Recalling the evacuation, he said: "I remember helping one prisoner who had tripped and fallen.

"I tried my best to bandage his bleeding knee.

"Just think, when he got back home he’d have my handkerchief as a souvenir of the war."

When the Japanese left Signapore, 16 men from his squadron took a 1,400 mile journey to Kallang - the longest known journey for a Spitfire aircraft.

During this journey they lost one pilot who is still undiscovered, with the remainder of the squadron boarding a ship to sail by night.

On arrival the squadron were housed in flats owned by a Chinese millionaire.

Albert left the RAF in October 1946, moving into Tudor Close in 1948.

He first met the Queen in August 1995 at a VJ Day parade along with the Duke of Edinburgh.

He said: "Some men passed out that day at Buckingham Palace Square because of the heat but the Queens Guards Regiment kept us well watered.

"I’ve met Prince Phillip, the Queen and Prince Charles.

"I now receive a lot of letters and invitations from the Queen."

The ex-serviceman shared his stories in his book Spitfires over Burma, gathering his original copies of newspaper cuttings, letters and pictures.

Finishing it in a year, Albert said: "It’s about those who fought in the far east, they are a forgotten squadron and aren’t always mentioned."

An ambassador for children's charity Rainbow Trust, he prides himself on the work he does giving talks to people of all ages about his experiences.

Visit rainbowtrust.org.uk to buy the book.