A decades-old wrong could soon be put right if plans to install a new memorial plaque for members of the RAF and the Royal Flying Corps on Keighley War Memorial are approved.

The town’s war memorial pays tribute to the army and the navy but currently does not have any tribute to members of the air force.

Ian Walkden, a member of the Keighley branch of the Royal British Legion, launched the campaign to have the plaque installed in March after receiving a request for help from his friend Martin Whitcombe.

He said: “A Second World War veteran of Bomber Command, who lives in Keighley, told Martin he would love to see a tribute to the RAF on the town’s war memorial before he died. Martin said he had been chasing it for ten years but was getting nowhere with it so in March I said let’s go for it.”

Mr Walkden and his partner Edith Thompson, who is also a British Legion member, spent six months arranging to have the plaque placed on Keighley’s memorial. The couple had to contact all the interested parties, including the War Graves Commission, the RAF, the Ministry of Defence and Bradford Council’s conservation officer, before a planning application could be submitted to alter the listed monument.

Mr Walkden said: “I am pleased that it is going ahead after everybody has worked so hard on it. A decades-old wrong will be put right when the flying services are remembered on the war memorial at last.”

The stone plaque has been designed by Keighley-based artist David Ingham and is currently being made by stonemasons M&G Stone Ltd in Keighley. It will be unveiled on November 10 by a member of Bomber Command. The work, which is expected to cost up to £4,000, is being funded by Keighley Town Council.

Town mayor Michael Westerman said the town council was delighted to support the project. “When it came before the council for funding there was no opposition to it,” he said. “I think all the armed forces should be remembered in some way on the town’s memorial and this plaque will complete it.”

Mr Walkden said there had been no objections to the plans and he hoped Bradford’s planning officers would approve the scheme within the next few weeks.