THE plaque to a fallen hero has pride of place in West Bridgford Junior School.

It honours Sergeant Kenneth Clifton Pattison, who died at the age of 27 when his Spitfire was shot down on October 11, 1940.

The 601 Squadron member, based at Ternhill, was sent to intercept German bombers over Birmingham but crash-landed and died two days later, one of more than 500 pilots killed during the summer of 1940 when the RAF was all that stood between Britain and a Nazi invasion.

Sgt Pattison's remains were brought home to Nottingham and laid to rest in the cemetery at Wilford Hill, where his grave is now cared for by the Battle of Britain Historical Society. They set up the plaque presentation at Sgt Pattison's old school in 2006, arranging for a serving officer to hand it over to two pupils.

On duty that day was Flight Lieutenant Ed Jackson, based at RAF Cranwell, and students James Esam, ten, and Katie Kittmer, eight.

James, from West Bridgford, said: "This brings our lessons alive a bit more. We have been learning about the Battle of Britain and rationing in the war.

"It's interesting to find out this school has a famous person in the war and we have a history."

Kenneth Pattison joined the RAF's Volunteer Reserve in 1938 and was called up when war was declared a year later.

There to watch the presentation was his cousin Lorna-Joan Dawson, 86, who said: "It's quite exciting really. It's important for the children to know about the war."

Since 1999, The Battle of Britain Historical Society has placed more than 50 plaques at schools and colleges across the UK. One has been presented to a school in Canada.

Nottingham High School has one, commemorating the loss of two former pupils Arthur Watson, killed in November 1940, and John Harold Gilbert Walker, killed in May 1942.

Arthur Watson was 19 when he died. Known to the rest of the chaps in 152 Hyderabad Squadron as Rex or Watty, he took off in his Spitfire from RAF Warmwell in Dorset on November 28, 1940, to intercept German raiders.

Rex, whose family home was in Long Eaton, had already proved his worth during the Battle of Britain.

He had chalked up at least three confirmed kills, a Heinkel HE111 German bomber, and, in a fierce dogfight on September 27, a Junkers JU 88 bomber and a Bf110 fighter.

Pilot Officer Watson, a pupil at the High School from 1934 to 1939, had to be given extended leave to recover from his injuries.

He returned to the squadron in November 1940 and was scrambled into action again on November 28.

He took on a pack of German Bf109s protecting their bombers and his Spitfire was raked by cannon fire.

Watson was, apparently, unhurt and managed to extricate himself from the cockpit to bale out.

He fell to his death after his parachute failed to open properly.

His body was recovered and brought back home to be buried in Nottingham Southern Cemetery.

John Harold Gilbert Walker was serving with 25 Squadron, flying Blenheims, at the outbreak of war and remained with it throughout the Battle of Britain.

The squadron was a night-fighter unit but as this was the period when airborne radar was in its infancy, most patrols were uneventful.

Walker was engaged on many such patrols but failed to contact the enemy, except for one occasion when he was unable to take effective action because of the limited performance of the Blenheim.

On May 9, 1942, as squadron leader of 118 Squadron, flying Spitfires, he was shot down and crashed into the Channel.

He survived the crash but was found dead in his dinghy four days later off the coast of Deal. He was 23. He is buried in St Leonard's cemetery, Wollaton.

The son of a mill furnisher, he lived in Mansfield Road and later Woodville Drive, Sherwood.

At the High School from 1930 to 1935, he proved to be academically gifted and an accomplished sportsman.

He joined the school's officer training unit, rising to the rank of colour sergeant major, with the appointment of drum major in his final year.

His tutor, Mr Palmer, wrote at the end of his school career: "A sound fellow, with great keenness in OTC. Desirous of entering the Army as a career, but prevented by lack of means."

Before the outbreak of war, he worked in the Westminster Bank.

This article appears in a special Battle of Britain edition of the Bygones publication, on sale at local newsagents from Monday, priced 65p.