DEVIZES air cadet Ben Cockrem had a birthday present to remember when he joined other teenagers to fly in one of the aircraft taking part in the Queen's celebration flypast over Buckingham Palace on Saturday.

Ben, 19, who is a student at Swindon College only found out he was taking part on Friday when he won his chance to be involved in a moment in history when another cadet dropped out.

His mum Sue said: "He was on the reserve list and we only got a phone call on Friday. It was a wonderful surprise for him especially as it coincided with his birthday."

Ben, who joined the Devizes squadron five years ago and now has the rank of sergeant, had to travel to RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire on Saturday morning to meet up with the 74 other air cadets from across Wiltshire and Dorset who had been chosen to take part.

They boarded the giant RAF Voyager aircraft which is equipped to carry troops over long distances in comfort. An air cadet spokesman said: "On board the cadets were treated to freshly made sandwiches and hot drinks before being joined in formation by two RAF Typhoons for the fly past down The Mall.

"Cdt Petkov, 14, from Swindon was interviewed on board by the BBC Blue Peter film crew. He said that this was the best thing he had done since joining the Air Cadets."

Squadron Leader Balshaw who organised the trip and who has been a cadet leader for over 20 years agreed and said: “It was absolutely amazing and quite simply the best day I have ever had."

The Air Cadet Organisation is celebrating its 75th anniversary this year.

Among those on the balcony of Buckingham Palace with the Queen and enjoying the flypast, which also included Hercules aircraft that used to be based at Lyneham but now fly out of Brize Norton, were Princess Charlotte and Prince George accompanied by their parents Prince William and Kate.

The formation was led by helicopters including a Chinook, a Griffin, the AW109SP and a Puma 2.

They were followed by the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight's Spitfire and Hurricane.

Ben's plane was in a wave of giant planes capable of transporting troops across the world.