A wartime pilot has returned to the Pembrokeshire airfield where he made history 65 years ago by bringing down a 20 tonne flying boat on land.

Australian Gordon Singleton landed his Sunderland flying boat on Angle airfield in May 1943 after the aircraft's hull was badly holed during an Atlantic rescue.

In a masterly landing, the massive four-engined aircraft cut a long furrow in the earth before coming to rest, without injury to Mr Singleton or his crew.

This was the only time a Sunderland - designed to operate solely from water - had been successfully landed'.

Gordon Singleton was then based at nearby RAF Pembroke Dock with the famous 461 Squadron, Royal Australian Air Force.

He returned to Angle at the invitation of the Pembrokeshire Aviation Group and, helped by Barbara Rees, former member of the Women's Auxiliary Air Force, unveiled a newly restored memorial near West Angle beach which commemorates the airfield and the historic landing.

Following her wartime training Mrs Rees was posted to RAF Angle near her home village.

The memorial was refurbished by Mike Pedder, of the Angle History Group, and access to the airfield - now farmland - was by permission of Ieuan Preece, of South Studdock Farm.

Gordon, who lives near London, said: "To return to the airfield after all these years is very special.

"In 1943 my Sunderland would have sunk immediately had I landed on water so I opted for the airfield.

"I did not aim for the runways but chose an area of grass which was much more forgiving.

"Lots of my squadron colleagues rushed out from Pembroke Dock expecting to see a big crash - instead my CO filmed a smooth landing."

Gordon, his wife Pat and other family members also visited Pembroke Dock's Gun Tower Museum, where his landing is remembered. He also met Sunderland Trust members who intend to recover a wartime Sunderland from the Milford Haven Waterway.