Two fighter planes at the entrance to the Hendon RAF museum are to be renovated in preparation for its 100th anniversary.

A pair of Hurricane and Spitfire replicas which stand as ‘gate guardians’ for the museum have been dismantled on the site and will be transported to Cosford for work.

They will return to the museum in time for its centenary celebrations in April 2018, positioned at the museum’s new entrance in Grahame Park Way.

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As the museum reflects on the stories of its history, the Spitfire’s squadron markings will the repainted to those of Sergeant Ray Holmes of the 504 squadron which flew from Hendon in 1940.

Sgt Holmes, who went on to become a journalist in Liverpool after the war, is being commemorated for his efforts to fight off air raids over London.

Museum PR manager Ajay Srivastava said: “In an act of selfless bravery and with no thought to his own safety, Sgt Holmes prevented a bomber from destroying Buckingham Palace by ramming it with the wing of his aircraft.

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“His plane was badly damaged, crashing near the grounds of Buckingham Palace.

He bailed out injured but survived – the adoption of this new colour scheme is indicative of the museum’s aim to tell more stories about its aircraft and the people who flew and maintained them.”

In 2004, parts of Sgt Holmes’ real plane were excavated and can be viewed in the museum.

The museum’s Hendon site will remain open from 10am daily during the multi-million pound works for the RAF museum’s centenary 2018 transformation programme.