People gathered to remember a group of courageous men who fought in the sky to preserve the liberty of others.

A service was held today to mark the actions of the Royal Auxiliary Air Force's 610 (County of Chester) Squadron, who were based at RAF Gravesend Airport during the Second World War in 1940.

The 610 were involved in the evacuation of Dunkirk and sadly lost eight men as they fought bravely to repel the German Luftwaffe planes.

'The Chesters' as they were known, then went off to be based at Biggin Hill airport in Bromley and fought during the Battle of Britain.

At the site of RAF Gravesend, now Cascades leisure centre in Thong Lane, a plaque was unveiled by Gravesham mayor Cllr Mick Wenban to remember those lost.

Cllr Wenban, was joined by Adam Holloway MP for Gravesham who read the Act of Remembrance during proceedings and there was also a reading of Ecclesiastes 3:1-4, 7-8 performed by deputy lieutenant of Kent, Rosemary Dymond.

The Last Post was sounded as well as a moment's silence observed to remember those who had been lost.

Among the audience were armed forces veterans, Air Cadets and serving armed forces personnel.

The event was organised by Michael Lewis of the 610 Squadron Association, with help from John Tate from the Gravesend Airport Heritage Project, who had invited relatives of the pilots to see the plaque being unveiled and share memories.

The mayor, who paid tribute to the men of the 610 during the service, said it was important to remember all servicemen.

He said: "I thought it was a very moving service. I lost an uncle in 1943 who was on the Sunderland (a flying boat) and never came back while serving over the Atlantic."

See pictures from the service in Thursday's Gravesend Messenger