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Relatives of the pilots who took part in the Second World War Channel Dash operation paid their respects as a memorial was unveiled at Ramsgate Harbour.

The granite stone, which takes pride of place outside the town’s Maritime Museum, honours the 18 brave aircrew who flew from RAF Manston in February 1942 in an ill-fated attempt to defeat three heavily-defended German battleships.

All six Fairey Swordfish aircraft piloted by 825 Naval Air Squadron were destroyed in the English Channel as they approached the German flotilla, which was flanked by more than 250 Luftwaffe aircraft, destroyers, E-boats and minesweepers.

Hundreds of people attended the unveiling of the Channel Dash memorial on Friday (February 12), including the widow of one of the pilots and the son of another.

They were joined by Admiral the Lord Boyce, the former Chief of the Defence Staff and patron of the Channel Dash Association, which was founded at Manston airport three years ago. The Mayor of Ramsgate, the Mayor of Broadstairs and St Peter’s and Dr Stephen Ladyman, the MP for South Thanet, also paid their respects.

A wreath was laid earlier in the day on the waters of the Strait of Dover, while onlookers were treated to a fly past of an original Fairey Swordfish and other historic aircraft.

The granite memorial to 825 Naval Air Squadron is around 1.5 metres tall and features an engraving of a Fairey Swordfish and the squadron insignia. An information board is mounted on the front, with the names of the aircrew inscribed on the base.

It also carries an engraving of the Victoria Cross, which was awarded posthumously to Lt Cdr Eugene Esmonde, who led his men out across the Channel during the doomed mission nearly 70 years ago.