D-day for Bomber Command Memorial

or maybe it would be better spent keeping the Vulcan in the air for 10 mins :diablo:

Roadracer departing stage left as fast as poss before the big delta brigade arrive !

No in all honesty , and joking aside, I reckon it is a good idea to bring the sacrifice of all those who flew in the Wimpies, Hampdens, Halifaxs et all to the notice of the gen public in a way that will be seen by as many as possible.

I often thought that Lottery funds could have been looked for with a view to getting something like a Mossie back in the air or as David said bringing back something like the Sterling from extinction.

Am I missing something or has the not been at Bomber Command Hall at Hendon since the early 1980’s and the operation of the BBMF Lancaster for I guess four decades ?? Whilst I don’t deny the sacrifice of the Bomber Command crews I am
wondering does another memorial in the centre of London increase the public’s perception ?? Maybe 3.5 million could be spent recovering something like a Stirling or getting the Hampden on display whilst there are still people alive who flew them.

Very good news, as said already long overdue.

This article from The Standard explains a little better

Moggy

Maybe its Sunday and the cobwebs are not quite dispelled yet but i still dont understand why have fighter aircraft as part of a Bomber command memorial ??

This article from The Standard explains a little better
Moggy

If this is correct then it would appear to be Halifax ‘LW682’ of 426 Sqn.

Very interesting story of the recovery and the subsequent crew burial etc on this link :
http://users.telenet.be/airwareurope/en/bergingen/halifax_lw682_e.htm

Another : http://426sqdn.ca/remembrances/geraardsbergen.html

So pleased to read of the ‘go ahead’ for this long awaited recognition of Bomber Command – many decades late but ……..

“WE WILL REMEMBER THEM” – WE DO REMEMBER EACH & EVERY SINGLE ONE.

Richard

This article from The Standard explains a little better

Part of its roof will be made from melted down aluminium sections of a Halifax bomber shot down over Belgium on May 12, 1944 and in which eight crew were killed.

Three of the crew who have all posthumously been given full military honours, mid upper-gunner John Summerhayes, tail gunner Fred Roach and pilot Wilbur Bentz, were found when the aircraft was excavated in 1997.

The memorial will house a sculpture of seven aircrew by Philip Jackson and also include inscriptions from Sir Winston Churchill and illustrative carvings of the principal aircraft of Bomber Command with the Hurricane and Spitfire fighter aircraft

Moggy

According to Sky News:

…..and carvings of Hurricane and Spitfire aircraft.

This seems like an odd choice of aircraft for a Bomber Command memorial.

They don’t know the names of any other wartime RAF Aircraft?????

Bloody marvellous news anyway!
Jim

According to Sky News:

It will house a bronze sculpture of seven aircrew by Philip Jackson alongside include inscriptions from Sir Winston Churchill and carvings of Hurricane and Spitfire aircraft.

This seems like an odd choice of aircraft for a Bomber Command memorial.

Just watched Robin Gibb being interviewed on BBC breakfast/early morning TV.

Great news terribly presented. Much as I like the Bee Gees, Robin Gibb did not interview well. All credit to him, though, for being involved in the efforts to create this long overdue memorial.

There were very few details of the memorial itself (how is it being funded?) and the archive film started off with a close-up of a Mustang (at least it was an RAF one:mad:) going on to some aircraft a long way away and then a brief shot of a Lanc – although not a close-up!!

The memorial is to be in Green Park, Westminster and will contain a statue of a seven man (“Lancaster”) crew.

Roger Smith.

Great news, and about bloody time 🙂

Fantastic news & long overdue, but more than welcome news:)- however the prospect of melting down a Halifax is a bit intrigueing- I don’t think it will be the Hendon example but I certainly hope it is not the case.:(

Excellent news tonight that Planning Permission has been granted – long overdue!! 🙂

The BBC story on this, mentions that the entrance will be made from melted down aluminium from a Halifax bomber that was shot down during the war, and the carving will be of this crew.
Does anyone have any further details on this part of the story?

I know there is a constant debate on this forum over the issue of restoring the RAF Museum’s Halifax W1048 or leaving it “as found”, but I think melting her down to make a doorway is going a bit too far!

smiles

Mark Pilkington

The BBC story on this, mentions that the entrance will be made from melted down aluminium from a Halifax bomber that was shot down during the war, and the carving will be of this crew.
Does anyone have any further details on this part of the story?

FINALLY!

BBC TV London news just said that they got the planning permission to go ahead.

Great news.

PeterW