Bomber Command memorial

Second World War veterans from Britain and around the world descended on Green Park in Central London today to see the Queen unveil a memorial to tens of thousands of airmen who died in the conflict.

The Bomber Command Memorial in London's Green Park remembers the sacrifice and bravery of the RAF crew who played a crucial part in winning the War and faced death on a daily basis.

More than 5,000 veterans and veterans' relatives joined the Queen, the Duke of Edinburgh and other members of the Royal Family to remember the 55,573 RAF crew who lost their lives.

The Last Post was sounded and police made sure there was no distracting traffic passing to the rear of the memorial along Piccadilly as a silence was held.

There was also a flypast by five RAF GR4 Tornado bomber aircraft crewed by the RAF, and another by the RAF's last flying Lancaster Bomber, which dropped poppies over the park as a message of remembrance for those who died.

A £6m memorial to the 55,573 Bomber Command airmen who died during World War II has been unveiled by the Queen at Green Park in London.

Jim Dooley, Fundraising Director for the Bomber Command memorial has thanked the British people for their support.

"From the very first press releases we had had 80,000 letters that came in with some really rending stories together with cheques and we raised nearly a million pounds," he told ITV News.

"So that gave us the spirit to drive on."

Thomas Telford is another 91-year-old Bomber Command veteran heading to London to witness the memorial's unveiling.

He says that when the sculpture is unveiled today, "I'll certainly think of some of the lads I knew very well who didn't make it - no question about that."

Go to ITV Wales to see Thomas Telford's story.

"Bomber Command have always been heroes to me," the late Robin Gibb told ITV Daybreak in 2010.

"The role they played was a very important part in winning the war and it's repugnant that after so many years there hasn't been a permanent memorial in the centre of London."

Today, just 40 days after he died, the memorial he had campaigned for will be unveiled.

World War II veteran Freddie Johnson, 91, is travelling from his home in Tadcaster to London for the unveiling of a memorial dedicated to him and his Bomber Command colleagues.

He was shot down twice during his 92 bombing missions and holds the Distinguished Flying Cross for gallantry.

Go to ITV Calendar to read Freddie Johnson's story.