PLANS for the incredible courage of war hero Andrew Mynarski to be recognised in his home country of Canada could take a step forward next month.

The Northern Echo revealed yesterday that a statue of the Second World War airman, similar to that which now stands at Durham Tees Valley Airport, could be erected in Winnipeg, Manitoba.

Bill Zuk, of the Canadian Aviation Historical Society and Manitoba Aviation Council, said yesterday that campaign organisers would meet on December 14 to discuss the idea.

It would need to raise £30,000 to put up a replica statue -a project which could take a year to complete.

"It's getting very, very close now. That meeting will be a chance to get all the interested parties together," he said.

"Very appropriately, it will take place in Mynarski Hall, which includes his Victoria Cross and other artefacts salvaged from the Lancaster.

"There's a lot of will to get this done and we already have the support of our Member of Parliament for this area."

The 8ft bronze statue at Durham Tees Valley Airport was unveiled in June, thanks to the success of The Northern Echo's Forgotten Hero campaign.

Our appeal aimed to raise £40,000 to honour the bravery of Pilot Officer Mynarski, who died in June 1944.

Mynarski was aged 27 when he died, after battling courageously to save the life of his friend, Pat Brophy, aboard their Lancaster bomber on a mission over France. The Lancaster's crew flew from the former Canadian Royal Air Force base at Middleton St George, near Darlington, now the home of Durham Tees Valley Airport.

In the end, £76,000 was raised and the statue was unveiled by Brophy's daughter, Colleen Bacon.

Mr Zuk said he would be keen to involve sculptor Keith Maddison, from Northumberland, who created the first statue.

Morwenna White, of the Historica Foundation in Canada, which backed the Forgotten Hero campaign, said: "This will be another fantastic twinning project between Canada and England, and especially between Winnipeg and the North-East."