The sacrifices of RAF pilots who fought in one of the most pivotal battles in recent British history was remembered during a commemoration ceremony.

A total of 544 RAF personnel from Fighter Command died defending the UK from the Nazis in the Battle of Britain 70 years ago.

Scores more from Bomber Command and Coastal Command died as Britain’s future hung by a thread in the face of the German onslaught during the dark days of the World War II.

To commemorate the 70th anniversary of the battle, veterans, military figures, politicians and other dignitaries gathered for the unveiling of a statue of one of the period’s great heroes.

New Zealander Air Chief Marshal Sir Keith Park commanded the squadrons that defended London and the south east in the summer of 1940.

His bronze stature is commanding a prime position in London’s Waterloo Place.

The Battle of Britain began as Hitler turned his attention across the Channel after defeating the French.

The Germans began air attacks in the early summer designed to seize control of the skies over England in preparation for invasion.

High above the pastoral landscape of Kent and Sussex Britain’s future was placed in the hands of a small band of young fighter pilots.

Day after day the Germans sent bombers and fighters over England, with RAF pilots outnumbered in the air by four to one.

The RAF scrambled their Spitfire and Hurricane pilots into the sky to do battle often three, four or five times a day. Britain’s air defence bent but did not break.

Nearly 3,000 air crew served with Fighter Command during the course of the battle, nearly 600 of whom were from the British Dominions, and occupied European or neutral countries.

The Luftwaffe lost almost 2,000 aircraft in the battle which raged throughout the summer, while the RAF lost more than 900.