Brad Pitt has bought a £2million Spitfire plane.

The 49-year-old actor has developed a fascination with World War II since working on his latest movie 'Fury' and has splashed out on one of the fighter aircraft which was commonly used by the Royal Air Force during the battle, which took place between 1939 and 1945.

A source told The Sun newspaper: ''Brad, who has done everything from sleep in the trenches to learn to drive a tank for the film, has now invested in one of the iconic machines.''

Brad will get lessons on how to fly the plane at Boultbee Flying Academy in Oxford where students are taught how to operate the Spitfire safely.

A Boultbee spokesman said: ''We don't comment on who we teach, but we have high-profile people. Buying Spitfires is very popular with wealthy individuals.''

Brad - who raises six children with fiancee Angelina Jolie - is currently busy filming 'Fury' near high security men's prison The Mount, which is located on the outskirts of Bovingdon village in Hertfordshire, East England.

The Hollywood hunk wants to recruit extras from the facility, which holds Category C prisoners - who are classified as those who can't be trusted in open condition - to help with their rehabilitation.

A source told the Daily Star newspaper: ''Brad is fascinated that the prison and 800 caged men are so close to where he's working.

''He's requested a visit to The Mount and has asked director David Ayers whether any of the prisoners could be used as extras as part of their rehabilitation and educational programme.

''Brad is always trying to imp­rove and help wherever he sees possibilities, something he's learnt from his years with Ange.

''And despite the severity of some of the crimes the prisoners have committed, he wouldn't be nervous at all about working with the inmates.

''He's someone who believes in second chances.''