AN 84-YEAR-OLD with arthritis has worked tirelessly to create a mesh figurine of a famous Battle of Britain pilot in time for the 75th anniversary.

Peter Lovegrove, of Didcot, created a life-size sculpture of Squadron Leader Kenneth ‘Hawkeye’ Lee which he has donated to Armed Forces charity SSAFA.

The ace pilot took down five enemy aircraft in his first month flying a Hurricane in May 1940 before having to bale out of a burning plane.

He recovered in time to fight in the Battle of Britain where he took several more scalps and was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross.

The artwork figurine is now on display at RAF Benson and Mr Lovegrove hopes one of the famous pilot’s descendants will come forward.

The former Harwell Laboratory worker failed his medical to join the RAF when he was 18 but has carried on his love of planes in his spare time.

Now retired, he spends his time making wire figurines and mosaics.

He said: “I wanted to do something to remind us all of the sacrifices and bravery of those on the front line to mark the anniversary.

“It’s not about whether it’s 50 or 75 years. It matters that we remember them every year.

“There won’t be many of them around at the next major remembrance.”

Mr Lovegrove, a grandfather of 13, devoted much of his spare time to aviation, working for the British Microlight Association as a volunteer and setting up a company, British Gyroplanes.

He said: “Kenneth Lee had an incredible war record and was named Hawkeye because of his remarkable sight.

“He flew in Britain, France and North Africa and was shot down several times before being awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross.”

Mr Lovegrove, a widower, struggles with arthritis but worked for more than a month to get the mesh figure finished.

He said: “I’m not that bad but there’s a lot of cutting and twisting involved.

“After I do about five or six hours I have to stop for half a day or so.

“I’m quite impatient. I like to see how it will look finished so I worked about eight to 10 hours a day.”

Mr Lovegrove gave the artwork to SSAFA, which provides lifelong support for servicemen and women and their families, to mark the 75th anniversary of Battle of Britain Day. The figurine of Sqn Ldr Lee is now on show at RAF Benson.

Mr Lovegrove said: “I’m glad it’s being recognised there.

“I am helping SSAFA find his family members.

“We thought it would be nice for them to know that he was being honoured.”

Members of Kenneth Lee’s family can get in touch with the SSAFA on 020 7463 9258.

SQUADRON LEADER KENNETH 'HAWKEYE' LEE

Oxford Mail:

Squadron Leader Kenneth ‘Hawkeye’ Lee was called up to the RAF in January 1939 after training in the Volunteer Reserve.

His 501 squadron was sent to France the day the Germans launched their Blitzkrieg in May 1940. 

Sqn Ldr Lee shot down three enemy planes in the first three days. 

He shot down two more before he was hit on June 10 and baled out of his burning aircraft – injuring a leg and hand as he jumped out. Sqn Ldr Lee – given his nickname because he was always the first to spot enemy aircraft – returned to action in the opening phase of the Battle of Britain in July when he shot down a Stuka dive bomber and severely damaged another in an engagement over Dover harbour.

He was forced to bale out of his aircraft once again in August when he was rescued by soldiers and taken to a local golf course for a brandy.

He later served in Egypt and Libya before being captured in Germany, where he aided the Great Escape.

Sqn Ldr Lee left the RAF at the end of the Second World War.

He then moved to Dublin and set up a wholesale plumbing business before retiring to Spain in 1977.

He moved back to England to be close to his daughter in 1995 before he died in 2008 aged 92.