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		</div><p><a href="http://londonglossy.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/spitfire-makes-anniversary-flight.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-full" title="A Second World War Spitfire flies over Southampton, flown by the world's only female Spitfire pilot, Carolyn Grace" src="http://londonglossy.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/min-spitfire-makes-anniversary-flight.jpg" alt="A Second World War Spitfire flies over Southampton, flown by the world's only female Spitfire pilot, Carolyn Grace"/></a></p>
<p>A Spitfire has taken to the skies over its birthplace to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the first flight of the world famous aircraft.</p>
<p>The fighter, piloted by Carolyn Grace, flew over Southampton for 20 minutes in honour of the 1936 test flight that paved the way for the aircraft to become a mainstay of the RAF during the Second World War.</p>
<p>The aircraft built in 1944 and credited with shooting down the first German plane on D-Day, was seen by thousands who came out in chilly conditions across the city and along Southampton Water to see the flight.</p>
<p>The aircraft was designed by the famous RJ Mitchell at Supermarine&#8217;s factory in Southampton and first flew from the then Eastleigh airfield &#8211; now Southampton International Airport.</p>
<p>RJ Mitchell never lived to see the Spitfire become one of the most famous aircraft in the world as he died in 1937 of cancer aged just 42.</p>
<p>Mrs Grace, from Sydney, Australia, speaking before she took to the air, said: &#8220;To be in Southampton for the 75th anniversary of the first flight, to be standing on the ground at the very spot that RJ Mitchell was standing looking at his achievement, it makes my knees go weak.</p>
<p>&#8220;His aircraft represents Britain at its best at a time it was on its knees.&#8221;</p>
<p>Mrs Grace owns the aircraft that flew in the war with 485 Squadron and she took over flying it after her husband Nick, who had restored it, died in 1988.</p>
<p>The Spitfire is now a two-seater aircraft, and carried the architect of a new Spitfire tribute, Nick Hancock, on the flight. Fundraising is under way to help raise the £2 million needed for Mr Hancock&#8217;s design for a national landmark to commemorate the Spitfire.</p>
<p>The monument will sit two miles from the Supermarine Aviation site where RJ Mitchell developed the aircraft. The Spit, as it is affectionately known, is due to take off again to recreate the test flight on March 5, 1936, when the warplane took to the skies for the first time and made a lap of the airfield.</p>
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