A statue paying tribute to a courageous and decorated hero of the Second World War will be unveiled later this month.

The monument to squadron leader Mahinder Singh Pujji DFC (Distinguished Flying Cross), who lived in The Grove, Gravesend, will be open for people to enjoy on November 28.

The 8ft, bronze statue cost £70,000 to construct and will be situated in St Andrew’s Gardens, Gravesend.

Money for the monument was raised by the public and various groups as part of the Mayor’s Fund.

Gravesham council leader, Cllr John Burden said that the statue commemorated the courage of those who served their country.

He said: “The statue will look fantastic and I am proud that we have such a beautiful piece in our borough which commemorates the brave, heroic people who served Britain.”

Sqn Ldr Pujji, was one of only 18 qualified Indian pilots who volunteered for the Royal Air Force, in 1940.

The father-of-three joined the RAF as a 22-year-old after spotting an advert in an Indian newspaper appealing for pilots.

He was one of the 2.5 million servicemen who came from the Indian subcontinent, making up the biggest volunteer army in history.

He enjoyed an illustrious career during the war and flew with the 43 Squadron.

It was serving with the 43 that he was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for his actions in the Far East against the Japanese.

Specifically, when he saved 300 American soldiers from Japanese troops in the Burmese jungle.

Sqn Ldr Pujji flew 25 different types of aircraft, including Spitfires, Hurricanes and Tomahawks.

He also served across Kent in the days after the Battle of Britain, where he was stationed in Gravesend.

His military achievements led him to meet Winston Churchill, Gandhi, King Farouk of Egypt, King George VI and Queen Elizabeth II.

Later he won a gold medal for gliding, was a motor racing champion, a driving instructor and an air traffic controller at Heathrow Airport.

Later on in life Sqn Ldr Pujji moved to Gravesend where he spent his final years in the town before passing away in 2010, aged 92.

Artist Douglas Jennings was the man picked to design and make the sculpture.

Mr Jennings’ previous work includes pieces in the Royal Collection at Buckingham Palace and a statue of Fulham FC legend Johnny Haynes, after starting out his career sculpting celebrities at Madame Tussauds in London.

The sculptor said that he thoroughly enjoyed creating the monument to such a courageous and selfless man.

He said: “Pujji was a wonderful subject to research and sculpt given his heroism alongside cultural and RAF influences.

“Pujji is a fabulous representation and example of those who gave up everything to fight for Britain and the Commonwealth.

"He is a shining example, completely right to represent all those who fought. This man wasn’t asked to fight, he chose to.

“Pujji refused to wear the protective head gear because of his religion. He was shot down twice, lost many of his friends and colleagues, but he continued to fight, as did many Sikhs.”