Hundred of people from across the UK have pledged to attend the funeral in Lancashire of a World War Two veteran they never knew.
Harold Jellicoe Percival served as ground crew on the famous Dambusters raids carried out in May 1943 by 617 Squadron.
Mr Percival who died last month aged 99, never married or had children.
The funeral home organising the service put an advert in a newspaper appealing for people to attend.
Mr Percival, who lived in Penge, south London, before joining Bomber Command, died in Alistre Lodge Nursing Home in Lytham St Annes in Lancashire.
Nursing home manager Lorraine Holt told BBC News she had been inundated with responses from people after the advert was reposted on social media sites.
"Late last night we had a call from a soldier on leave from Afghanistan who said he wanted to attend.
"Then an 80-year-old lady from London who served in the RAF called us to say she was attending.
"The response has been absolutely incredible.
"Our local police have been in touch asking if we need any traffic control on the day of his funeral after hearing how many people are due to attend.
"We're going to open the nursing home for anybody who wants to come after the service, but I'm not sure how we'll cope with so many people."
'Private man'Davis Boothman, secretary for the RAF Association Leyland branch, said they had also helped to ensure Mr Percival's funeral on Monday was well attended: "We normally do try and make a showing at these times.
"It is important that we remember people like Harold - they are part of us."
Mr Percival's nephew, David Worsell, who cannot attend the funeral, said: "He was a private man.
"He worked in Australia for a number of years as a decorator and would visit England for holidays.
"He travelled around England with only his backpack.
"He didn't have a postal address - he just used to get everything sent to my mother's address and would go through it when they met up."
Frank Richard Carew-Percival, who contacted the BBC from Australia, said he was Mr Percival's nephew and was disappointed that he wouldn't be able to attend the service.
"He lived with us on and off in Australia and New Zealand. He loved cricket and taught my son how to spin bowl."
He said his uncle was a shy man who led a "nomadic type " lifestyle.
"I managed to trace him six months ago and sent him photos of when he lived with us.
"We always had a Coe's (Harold Jellicoe Percival) room wherever we lived as he could turn up at any time."
Mr Percival's family has told the BBC a nephew, great-nephew and great-niece will be at his funeral, which takes place at 11:00 GMT on Armistice Day, at Lytham Park Crematorium.
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