 Duxford was an important Battle of Britain Spitfire base |
An ex-Battle of Britain fighter station is to honour one of its World War II Spitfire aces with a special memorial. Tributes were paid to Wing Commander George "Grumpy" Unwin at the Imperial War Museum's aviation headquarters at Duxford near Cambridge on Sunday.
Mr Unwin, who died in June aged 93, was based at Duxford with 19 Squadron during the Battle of Britain.
The museum told his colleagues who had gathered to remember him it planned to erect a memorial to him.
"George and his Alsatian Flash were synonymous with Duxford during the Battle of Britain, appearing in many of our archive photographs," said a museum spokeswoman.
"We are honoured to be chosen as the home of a tribute to him which will ensure that his time at Duxford is not forgotten."
Miner's son Mr Unwin, born in Bolton-on-Dearne, South Yorkshire in 1913, was twice awarded the Distinguished Flying Medal.
He became one of the most famous of "The Few", as the pilots were named by the Prime Minister Winston Churchill.
Legend has it that he earned the nickname "Grumpy" after repeatedly complaining about not being allocated an aircraft during the Dunkirk crisis.
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