HIS sharp eyesight and mathematics ability were among the reasons James 'Mac' MacDonald was selected for pilot training rather than the gunning position he had applied for.

So when the Bomber Command Association (BCA) unveiled its plans for a £3.5million memorial to Britain's World War Two bomber crews it didn't take him long to spot errors.

For example, one of the crewmen in the model, which will be scaled up to make the larger-than-life bronze centrepiece of the memorial, is wearing a parachute with a four-point harness, while at least two others have five-point harnesses. "I can't quite remember which is right, but I know they can't both be," the 86-year-old said.

"Also, flying hats were never worn on the ground; they were padded and you'd never have been able to hear a thing. On landing they were sometimes pushed off over the back of the head to rest on the neck, but this caused a problem as to what to do with the long lead, which was left dangling unless pushed into a trouser pocket.

"More commonly, they were carried by the done-up chin strap with all the attachments including the oxygen mask tucked inside the helmet."

The former Lancaster pilot, now a Topsham resident, spent 18 months training to earn his wings and flew on 15 'ops', many in daylight, towards the end of the conflict. Many men he knew were shot down and he is determined those behind the memorial get the details correct.

At the time the Warrant Officer was just 22, the average age of a bomber crew member.

He has written to the BCA expressing his support for the memorial and raising his concerns so they can be acted upon before the bronze is cast.

"It's wonderful that at last something is being done to commemorate the losses of Bomber Command but I feel it's absolutely vital we get this right," he said. "I'm not being pedantic but these guys don't look right, and the statue is going to be around for a long time."

He has also questioned why none of the figures in the sculpture, by renowned artist Philip Jackson, appears to be wearing the 'Mae West' lifejacket or the woollen roll-neck sweaters which were almost obligatory to guard against extreme cold.

Also, one figure is wearing a forage cap, which he says were almost always stuffed under an epaulette or left in a locker.

Andrew Cormack, the RAF Museum's keeper of uniforms and medals, has written back to Mr MacDonald explaining that some artistic licence was necessary because, for example, it would be hard to make out a swept-back flying helmet once it was cast in bronze.

"I accept that chaps would also take off, very quickly, their flying helmets, but what we're dealing with here is art, not actuality," he writes.

The BCA has received several comments on the model, or maquette, and Mr Cormack is meeting the artist next week to advise on any changes.

Douglas Radcliffe, the BCA's secretary and a former wireless operator, said aircrew dress varied from base to base.

"This is purely a scale model just to show the grouping. There's no way we would allow this expensive project to go ahead unless it's entirely accurate," he said.