London tribute to WWII bombers set

Crew of one of the famous Dambusters Lancaster bombers - Kiwi Les Munro is at top left. Photo / RAF

A memorial is to be unveiled in London next year to honour those who fought in Bomber Command in World War II - including thousands of Kiwis.

The multimillion-dollar memorial will be built in Green Park and is expected to be unveiled in May.

More than 6000 New Zealanders volunteered to fight in Bomber Command - the bombing wing of the Royal Air Force - and almost a third of them died.

A nationwide roll call is under way by the New Zealand Bomber Command Association to find veterans interested in making the trip to London. So far about 20 have expressed interest and by next year 30 are expected to travel.

An appeal will be made to Veterans Affairs and the air force to help them get to the unveiling.

The last surviving pilot from the "Dambusters" raid in Germany in May 1943, Les Munro, intends to go.

Veteran Ron Mayhill said the memorial meant a lot to him and to all who served. "It's very special. It means we are belatedly being recognised but also, I've got so many memories of friends who went missing. I can still see their faces.

"When I go to the memorial I will be thinking of them. It's a memorial to them," Mr Mayhill said.

Rear gunner Tom Whyte, who spent time in 101 Squadron with Bomber Command, is looking forward to the trip.

Mr Whyte said he shared a common bond with his fellow veterans.

"We have a sort of commonality about our past experience. We've gone into uniform, we've gone into boot camp, we've worked our way up, we've stuck our necks out, we've been shot at."

A spokesman for Veterans Affairs said a discretionary fund was available which could be used "to attend official commemorations overseas or to revisit battlefield sites".

Applicants must be veterans of the New Zealand forces and of the battle or campaign being commemorated.

The maximum individual grant is $2000 and may be used only once.