THE memorial that will be erected this summer to Flt Lt Jon Egging , the Red Arrows pilot will touch the hearts of all who see it.

His death at Bournemouth’s Air Festival last August stunned the town and the world.

Based on an idea by two Kinson Primary schoolchildren and designed by artist Tim Ward, the memorial will be unveiled on the cliff top at East Overcliff Drive in time for this year’s festival.

Also on the East Cliff, can be found another memorial, a plaque in memory of Flt Lt John ‘Butch’ Green DFC, who died while when his Spitfire crashed into the sea between Bournemouth and Boscombe piers in 1947.

But local historian Michael Edgington, of Westbourne , recalls a third tragedy involving an RAF pilot who died while taking part in an air display over Bournemouth in 1941. He was Vaclav Skrivanek.

And no memorial marks the spot near where he died – just a gravestone where he is buried.

How did he die? Late on Friday, February 21 1941 three Hurricane fighters from No 32 Squadron, recently based at the new fighter station at Ibsley, were giving a display during a ‘War Weapons Week’,” he said.

“It was being held to encourage the residents to give and raise money for the war effort.

“One of the Hurricanes, No V6988m, was being flown by Sgt Pilot Vaclav Skrivanek.

“Vaclav was a 22-year-old Czech, who had come to this country when Germany annexed his country.

“As they flew low over St Clement’s Road in Boscombe, Vaclar performed a victory roll.

“However his altitude was so low that he was unable to pull out of the manoeuvre.”

It crashed into the backs of Number 38 and number 40 St Clement’s Road, damaging four other buildings.

The pilot – who would have celebrated his 22nd birthday three days later – did not survive.

“Firemen from the Central Fire Station in Holdenhurst Road were able to rescue the only occupant at No 38 from the rubble,” said Mr Edgington. “Luckily he was not badly hurt.”

“An inquest found that the accident had been caused by an error of judgement when the plane was flying upside down.”

War Weapons Week in Bournemouth that week exceeded its target to raise £1,629,102. Events included an exhibition in Westover hall, Westover Road that featured Messerschmidt brought down by British airmen.

Wartime censorship meant the tragedy was not included in the Echo reports that week.

Today, the death of John Green is marked by a plaque and soon there will be the fitting and poignant memorial to Red Arrows’ Flt Lt Jon Egging.

But there remains no memorial to Sgt Skrivanek.

He was buried in the War Plot in Ringwood Cemetery and his grave is simply marked by the distinctive headstone used by the War Graves Commission for Czech servicemen. May he rest in peace.