Battle of Trafalgar Square

Fighter pilots who flew in the Second World War gathered in Trafalgar Square today to call for a permanent memorial to an unsung hero of the Battle of Britain.

Against the backdrop of a replica Spitfire, the veterans were joined by MPs and senior RAF officers to launch a bid to place a statue of Air Chief Marshal Sir Keith Park on the square's fourth plinth.

The campaign is being led by City philanthropist Terry Smith, who is willing to spend more than £100,000 on a bronze sculpture of Sir Keith.

The New Zealander and First World War fighter ace, who died in 1975 aged 83, is credited with masterminding the RAF defence of Britain against the Luftwaffe.

Sir Douglas Bader said Sir Keith had borne the "awesome responsibility" for ensuring Britain's survival against German planes, while Lord Tedder, as Marshal of the RAF, said of him: "If any man won the Battle of Britain he did."

Mr Smith, chief executive of trading house Tullett Predom, says the statue would be a more fitting use of the plinth than its current role as a showcase for contemporary art. He said: "It is unbelievable that there is no recognition of a man who made such a massive contribution to Britain's defence. The Germans called him the defender of London. If you look around the square, there are admirals and generals but no statues of anyone in the RAF."

Mayor Ken Livingstone said there were more suitable locations for a statue, adding: "I support a permanent national memorial to Sir Keith Park in London."

The plinth is currently occupied by Model For A Hotel by German artist Thomas Sch¸tte, which is expected to be in place for 18 months.