Polish pilots who fought in the Battle of Britain will be honoured tomorrow by a spectacular air show, including a flypast by three Spitfires.

The veteran aircraft, and others dating from between the world wars to the Sixties, will take off from Bower Farm in Chailey, site of the Chailey airfield during World War II, where the Poles were based.

More than 35 aircraft are due to fly, including an American Mustang, a Harvard plane and a pre-war German training aircraft.

Forces sweetheart Dame Vera Lynn will be joined by Lady Bader, wife of the late Douglas Bader, who flew in World War II despite losing both legs in a flying accident, for a ceremony to unveil a new memorial at the Plough Pub, Plumpton, at midday.

The memorial takes the form of a three-sided pyramid cast in concrete, with aluminium propellers on top. Several veterans from Britain and Poland will be returning for the ceremony.

Aviation enthusiasts, Arthur Rayner, Richard Whittle and Richard Wells, have recreated the wartime grass runway across three fields for the event, the first to commemorate the three Polish RAF squadrons based there.

Mr Rayner, who runs an aviation art gallery in Ditchling, said: "Nothing has been done to commemorate the Polish men who flew from Chailey. The men had all escaped from occupied Poland to Britain and fought for their country's freedom."

More than 200 men were based at Chailey, serving in 302, 308 and 317 Squadrons. They slept in tents in the woods and were helped by a small number of British ground crew.

The memorial is being erected at The Plough because originally there was a pub at the end of the runway at Chailey which was demolished to allow the aircraft to take off. A temporary pub was built where the Plough now stands.

Entry to the air show, which is from 2.30pm to 4.30pm, is free but commemorative programmes will be sold in aid of Royal Air Forces Association charities and other local causes.

There will be trade stands, a vintage fair classic car display and other attractions.