Henry Allingham made a return visit to the RAF officers college for his 112th birthday having attended an event there last year too.

His big day included a VIP lunch and a fly-past by the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight, an acrobatic display by Tutor training aircraft and a presentation of a book, card and a cake by 40 wide-eyed pupils of Cranwell Primary School.

Maurice Rushbrook from the school said the children found it a unique experience to be involved in. They wondered what life would have been like as he grew up seeing so much change, but they were not that keen to get so old.

Two boys, Archie Blankley, 5, and William Barley, 8, sharing the same birthday as the veteran were given cards which he wrote in and they stood with him during the ceremony.

A jump by the RAF Falcons was cancelled because of low cloud, but the parachute display team arrived in a Chinook helicopter to deliver a birthday card signed by the Chief of the Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal Sir Glenn Torpy. Mr Allingham said he enjoyed the flypast and the celebrations.

Mr Allingham was was born on June 6, 1896, in Clapham, London, during the reign of Queen Victoria and became a founder member of the RAF an Air Mechanic First Class when it was formed from the Royal Naval Air Service (RNAS) and the Army's Flying Corps in 1918.

Mr Allingham is the last survivor of the Battle of Jutland in 1916 - the largest sea battle of the First World War - and served on the battlefields of the Somme and Ypres working on damaged aircraft.

Now partially deaf and almost blind, Mr Allingham, lives at St Dunstan's home for blind ex-servicemen, in Ovingdean, near Brighton. He has seen six monarchs on the throne and 21 prime ministers. He has seen the arrival of the aeroplane, the motor car, telephones, TVs and space travel.

Mr Allingham now has five grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren. His wife died 38 years ago, while his daughters both died in their 80s. Family members were among the guests including his great-great-grandchildren aged two and four months.

Often asked about the secret of his longevity he admits it is about living within his limitations, but jokingly claims it is down to cigarettes, whisky and wild women.