A statue of a Gravesend flying ace and war hero is to be unveiled this Friday, honouring all those who fought for Britain.
In 1940 Mahinder Singh Pujji was one of 18 qualified Indian pilots who volunteered for the Royal Air Force.
He had a distinguished career during the Second World War, flying with 43 Squadron and being awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for his bravery.
Squadron Leader Pujji refused to wear the RAF protective head gear because of his Sikh faith and was shot down twice, losing many of his friends and colleagues.
Born in 1918 in Simla, India, he spent his last few years in Gravesend and died on in September 2010 aged 92.
The 8ft bronze statue on a Portland stone plinth is to be unveiled at St Andrew’s Gardens at 10am by Air Vice-Marshal Edward Stringer.
Council leader John Burden said: "The statue will look fantastic and I am proud that we have such a beautiful piece in our borough which commemorates the brave, heroic people who served Britain."
Detail from the statue.
The figure cost £70,000, most of which has been raised by the Gravesham community and various groups as part of the Mayor’s Fund.
It was sculpted on to a steel armature using 650kg of clay Its creator Douglas Jennings started his career at Madame Tussaud’s, where he sculpted many celebrities such as Nicolas Cage, Robin Williams and Ken Livingstone.
The sculptor said: "Pujji was a wonderful subject to research and sculpt given his heroism.
"He is a fabulous representation and example of those who gave up everything to fight for Britain and the Commonwealth.
"He is a shining example, completely the right choice to represent all those who fought.
"This man wasn’t asked to fight, he chose to."
The statue will commemorate all those who volunteered to serve Britain in combat between 1914 and 2014.
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