Frank Prosser receives a special bottle of whiskey for his 100th birthday

HAPPY BIRTHDAY: Frank Prosser, 100, with a special bottle of Jameson whiskey.

Frank Prosser has received a special bottle of whiskeyfor his 100th birthday.

Jameson whiskey brings back special memories for Frank, who was a trained fighter pilot in World War II.

While in Scotland, Frank was involved in a special operation on New Year's Eve 1942.

The mess at the Fleet Air Arm station in Machrihanish, in the Mull of Kintyre, was running out of whiskey so Frank was asked to fly a Swordfish to Northern Ireland with a friend to pick up much-needed supplies of Irish whiskey from the Jameson distillery.

After drinking a few whiskeys, especially as lunch had been served in their honour, the pair flew in the darkness, with their valuable cargo on board, back to the Mull of Kintyre.

"We weren't really fit to fly," Frank reflected.

The runway had to be lit up with goose neck flares to enable a safe landing.

The two airmen were greeted by great applause as the precious goods were carried into the mess.

During Frank's 100th birthday celebrations at Sevenoaks Retirement Village, Paraparaumu, on Friday, he was presented with a special limited edition St Patrick's Day blended whiskey all the way from the famous distillery, after family had contacted the Jameson company and told them about the whiskey run.

Frank said the gift was "amazing".

"It brought back many memories which were all happy."