The ashes of a Sunderland pilot have been scattered on the airfield where he made wartime aviation history.

The wife and grandson of Gordon Singleton were joined by friends at Angle Airfield where in May 1943 he landed the four engined flying boat on grass after an epic rescue in the Atlantic. Gordon, then serving at RAF Pembroke Dock with 461 Squadron, Royal Australian Air Force, and his crew were uninjured.

This was the only occasion that a Sunderland was successfully landed on land.

Gordon died, aged 97, in 2013 and it was the wish of his wife, Pat, and family that his ashes be brought to Angle Airfield. This was arranged with the assistance of Mr Ieuan Preece, of South Studdock Farm, who farms the former airfield.

With Mrs Singleton was Gordon’s grandson, Kerry Singleton, who flew over especially from Dubai where he lives. It was his first visit to Pembrokeshire.

Gordon Singleton was a great supporter of heritage initiatives in Pembroke Dock and his Angle Touchdown features in displays at the town’s Heritage Centre in the Dockyard Chapel. Friends from the Sunderland Trust, which runs the Heritage Centre, were among those who supported Pat and Kerry Singleton at Angle.