Bomber Command Memorial (Merged)
I am an ex V bomber pilot, Valiants and Victors (and Canberras) with a deep and very serious interest in the enormous sacrifice and enormous contribution to ulimate victory made by the bomber crews in WW11 . I deeply resent the fact that those aircrew were denied both a fitting memorial or a campaign medal and the lack of real recognition of AM Harris. Now retired in Australia, I am an honorary member of the Australian Pathfinder Association and I have never met a finer bunch of men, anywhere.
The lack of a suitable memorial is a gross injustice, and as well as signing the petition I pledge a sum of 500 pounds towards its construction.
Regards,
David Gladwin. (ex 3 group 207, 55 and 57 Sqns.
The lack of a suitable memorial is a gross injustice, and as well as signing the petition I pledge a sum of 500 pounds towards its construction.
Regards,
David Gladwin. (ex 3 group 207, 55 and 57 Sqns.
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Signed, with pleasure.
Unfortunately I do not think that it will do any good. The current PC attitudes seem to indicate that we should apologise for our history, not claim that it was something well done.
Unfortunately I do not think that it will do any good. The current PC attitudes seem to indicate that we should apologise for our history, not claim that it was something well done.
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This ex-'V' Bomber techie has signed up.
It is a shame that the only existing memorial - Lancaster PA474 (which I was proud to have helped to restore to airworthiness back in 1966) - flies under the banner of "The Battle of Britain" Memorial flight.
It is a shame that the only existing memorial - Lancaster PA474 (which I was proud to have helped to restore to airworthiness back in 1966) - flies under the banner of "The Battle of Britain" Memorial flight.
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Signed, and the link posted onto another website. All honour to the fallen 55,000.
Sadly, don't think there is a hope in hell, but one must try.
Sadly, don't think there is a hope in hell, but one must try.
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"In memory of 55,573 R.I.P"
Which included 1,850 Kiwis; one in three of the 5,550 who served in Bomber Command.
Personally, having visited the BoB Memorial in London last year, I think that's where the Bomber Command Memorial should be also because more people would get to see it.
I've spoken to former 75 [NZ]Sqn members still alive, and frankly have never quite grasped the opposition to, first, a campaign medal, and now a memorial.
Personally, having visited the BoB Memorial in London last year, I think that's where the Bomber Command Memorial should be also because more people would get to see it.
I've spoken to former 75 [NZ]Sqn members still alive, and frankly have never quite grasped the opposition to, first, a campaign medal, and now a memorial.
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.. instead, possibly more appropriate in Lincs.. looking SE across the Fens?
Can you imagine, something as dramatic and as accessable as an equiv of The Angel of the North.. visible from afar?
Can you imagine, something as dramatic and as accessable as an equiv of The Angel of the North.. visible from afar?
That's another signature on the petiotion although I doubt that my dad (Ex 158 Sqn Halifaxes) will still be around to see it built unfortunately.
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Prune's campaign (Bomber Command memorial).
Apologies for the thread morph, I just thought a new one titled thus might attract a stronger diversity of involvement.
Lets think about this business of building a memorial to the bomber boys. These are our aircrews that we're talking about.. we wore the same badges as them, we have all taken the same first step forward that they took. Lord Broone of Lisbon didn't, and thats possibly why we won't have a memorial to them. Its clear that if there was official support for such a memorial, it would already have been done. But it won't, because Bomber's boys are too much of a political hot potato, because everyone is too busy distracted being laid off at Xmas from MB, about to retire, too jaded or they can't be arsed. So. Bollocks to them. How often have we all had to do somethings ourselves if a job was worth doing properly?
Why doesn't Prune take it on board and get something done itself (with others if need be)? I'm pretty certain that the power of the web can be harnessed to great effect, and our chums at Goat, ARRSE and Rum etc will be pleased to help. We collectively have sufficient experience and a suitable diversity of skills to set ourselves a realistic goal, and wouldn't it be nice to have this thing put to bed while we still have some of the bombers boys around to see it?
Instead of going cap in hand to this damned government (which takes pride on heaping scorn on us), lets do it ourselves. We need money, land, someone to make it and our own time. Apart from that it'll be a doddle. This is not rocket science though, we are not putting a man in space, we are not rebuilding a Vulcan, we are not even putting on a charity event. All we want to do is have a patch where we can say thank you, and where folk can go to remember.
Lets forget all the possible negatives, lets cast all that rational bollocks for now and think about it when we have a consensus.. but in principle, who is interested in doing this? Its fair to say I think, that we will have a heartland of support from a few regional councils (being pragmatic, they want to attract folk to their areas), so a lot of the potentially hard work is done. I am sure too, that we could get sanction from the highest unelected or unnappointed levels (where its important), the publicity and meeja is a done deal, and securing the commercial revenue won't be too hard either.
But why bother offering soothing platitudes and venting our spleens at the injustice of it all, if we give up at the first hurdle? Thats what they'll expect us to do, especially now that I've posted this.
Thoughts? Please add them all to the pot.
Think about it. They're our boys.
Lets think about this business of building a memorial to the bomber boys. These are our aircrews that we're talking about.. we wore the same badges as them, we have all taken the same first step forward that they took. Lord Broone of Lisbon didn't, and thats possibly why we won't have a memorial to them. Its clear that if there was official support for such a memorial, it would already have been done. But it won't, because Bomber's boys are too much of a political hot potato, because everyone is too busy distracted being laid off at Xmas from MB, about to retire, too jaded or they can't be arsed. So. Bollocks to them. How often have we all had to do somethings ourselves if a job was worth doing properly?
Why doesn't Prune take it on board and get something done itself (with others if need be)? I'm pretty certain that the power of the web can be harnessed to great effect, and our chums at Goat, ARRSE and Rum etc will be pleased to help. We collectively have sufficient experience and a suitable diversity of skills to set ourselves a realistic goal, and wouldn't it be nice to have this thing put to bed while we still have some of the bombers boys around to see it?
Instead of going cap in hand to this damned government (which takes pride on heaping scorn on us), lets do it ourselves. We need money, land, someone to make it and our own time. Apart from that it'll be a doddle. This is not rocket science though, we are not putting a man in space, we are not rebuilding a Vulcan, we are not even putting on a charity event. All we want to do is have a patch where we can say thank you, and where folk can go to remember.
Lets forget all the possible negatives, lets cast all that rational bollocks for now and think about it when we have a consensus.. but in principle, who is interested in doing this? Its fair to say I think, that we will have a heartland of support from a few regional councils (being pragmatic, they want to attract folk to their areas), so a lot of the potentially hard work is done. I am sure too, that we could get sanction from the highest unelected or unnappointed levels (where its important), the publicity and meeja is a done deal, and securing the commercial revenue won't be too hard either.
But why bother offering soothing platitudes and venting our spleens at the injustice of it all, if we give up at the first hurdle? Thats what they'll expect us to do, especially now that I've posted this.
Thoughts? Please add them all to the pot.
Think about it. They're our boys.
Last edited by Al R; 24th Oct 2007 at 14:13. Reason: (edited to fettle thread title)
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Might just work. You'd need the land (in perpetuity) and the correct location, Lincolnshire. How about the 'Brothers Lancaster' at
http://www.lincsaviation.co.uk/
http://www.lincsaviation.co.uk/
Last edited by forget; 24th Oct 2007 at 09:30.
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I readily understand your reasoning behind Lincolnshire, forget, but I would rather see the memorial right outside 10 Downing Street, so that those smug, supercilious bastards would have to see it every time they entered and exited.
It might just remind them of the current toll in human lives that the current wars are causing.
However I doubt it.
It might just remind them of the current toll in human lives that the current wars are causing.
However I doubt it.
Whilst I accept that Lincolnshire is the spiritual home of Bomber Command, there are other locations, such as High Wycombe (HQ Bomber Command), Yorkshire (don't forget the Halifax sqns) and Cambridgeshire (Pathfinders) which might get upset. My suggestion would be the National Memorial site:
http://www.nationalmemorialarboretum.org/
Not only would this be 'neutral' ground, it would ensure that a Bomber Command memorial would be seen by more people.
http://www.nationalmemorialarboretum.org/
Not only would this be 'neutral' ground, it would ensure that a Bomber Command memorial would be seen by more people.
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I thought about that, but would putting it there serve any purpose other than reminding folk who are minded to remember anyway? Is one of the objectives of a memorial not to ake people think, who wouldn't otherwise do so?
Cambs is a nice idea, more people there, accesable.. potential Duxford connection.
Cambs is a nice idea, more people there, accesable.. potential Duxford connection.
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Hyde Park Corner?
I don't know the background to what is going on there but the whole of that area and the road down to Buckingham Palace seems to be dedicated to memorials.
There is a huge, largely unpopulated, wall on the roundabout on the exit towards Victoria, there ia a NZ memorial etc.
A Bomber Command one would not go amiss there either.
I don't know the background to what is going on there but the whole of that area and the road down to Buckingham Palace seems to be dedicated to memorials.
There is a huge, largely unpopulated, wall on the roundabout on the exit towards Victoria, there ia a NZ memorial etc.
A Bomber Command one would not go amiss there either.
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The one for the fighter boys, on the south coast is stunning, because it isn't where you might expect it to be. It has a meaning and a connection there. I didn't know about it at all, until I came across it by chance one day, and the immediacy of its impact stunned me. I wasn't prepared for it, it caught me cold and truth be told, the fact that I didn't expect it probably made me think that little bit more. I parked the bike up, and just sat there for an hour. Isn't that impact what we should be aiming for? I don't know.. perhaps my experience is a little too personal and not objective enough.
I thought about that, but would putting it there serve any purpose other than reminding folk who are minded to remember anyway? Is one of the objectives of a memorial not to ake people think, who wouldn't otherwise do so?
Cambs is a nice idea, more people there, accesable.. potential Duxford connection.
Cambs is a nice idea, more people there, accesable.. potential Duxford connection.