A PLAQUE in honour of a Battle of Britain war hero from Pinner was unveiled at a ceremony on Sunday.

The event – organised by enthusiast Paul Baderman – was attended by the Mayor of Harrow Mrinal Choudhury and three RAF veterans in order to commemorate the service of Spitfire pilot and Squadron Leader Brian Lane.

Mr Lane – who is thought likely to have been shot down over the North Sea in 1942 – grew up in Barrow Point Avenue from the age of seven, where a blue plaque was fixed to his former home on Sunday.

The ceremony was due to be marked by a flypast by two Spitfire planes, but after high winds made that impossible, Harrow Police stepped in to use London's police helicopter to commemorate the occasion.

Mr Baderman said: “I told the police the situation and they made one or two phone calls and managed to get their helicopter here.

“The kids absolutely loved it and it kicked things off nicely – it was a great day.”

During the Dunkirk evacuation in May 1940, Mr Lane was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for his bravery.

By September 1940, during the peak of the Battle of Britain, he was promoted to Squadron Leader of 19 Squadron.

Mr Baderman, who lives in Pinner, said once he had read about the war hero's story he felt he needed more recognition locally.