Veteran survivors and their reactions

"This monument is absolutely unique. There has never been anything quite like it. This is a monument for all the people who took part."
Flt Lt William Walker - surviving pilot

"It's fantastic. It really is a wonderful monument. Everyone deserves to be remembered."
Squadron Leader "Bam" Bamberger - surviving pilot

"It's so remarkable. It's different to any other monument I've ever seen. The great thing about it is that it's not just us [the flyers], it's got everyone in it - air raid wardens, nurses, everyone who suffered night after night. We were at the sharp end of the thing, but they took the brunt of it. It's long, long, long overdue. It's thanks to the perseverance of a few people who have an interest in the Battle that this has happened."
Wing Commander Robert Foster DFC - surviving pilot

"It's unbelievable, quite fantastic. The workmanship, the devotion, the attention to detail is quite extraordinary. Seeing those panels with all the names of people one once knew, it's very emotional."
Squadron Leader Graham Leggett - surviving pilot

"It is very needed because a lot of people have forgotten about the Battle."
Leopold Heimes - surviving Belgian pilot

"I think the monument is wonderful. It shows what a contribution we all made."
Jean Shrimpton - Factory worker during the Battle

"It's a wonderful, wonderful piece of work. It depicts everything that went on, regardless of whether it was off or on an airfield. You've got people looking through glasses for planes - spotters they were called - just like it really was."
Connie Evans - Spotter during the Battle (an Ack Ack girl)

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"It captures everything that went on, both in the service and on the civilian side of life in those dark and dreary days."
Jack Toombs - surviving pilot