Bomber Command Memorial approved by the UK Governement. Spring 2012 opening ceremony.

I studiously avoid duplicate posts, but in this case am making an exception re this post at: http://www.ww2f.com/wwii-general/18835-bomber-command-campaign-medal-petition-2.html#post573941

A Bomber Command Memorial originally costing 3.5 million pounds including a Greek columned building structure enclosing sculptures of a bomber crew of seven
has been approved with the opening ceremony ± scheduled for spring 2012 in Piccadilly, Westminster City.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/london/8681663.stm

On May 4th 2011, current fundraising reached £5.6 million of a £6 million fundraising target. http://news.itn.co.uk/home/18068/bomber
- Fundraisers also need to raise a further £2 million for maintenance of the memorial.

See also the 17 minute section onwards at the following video:
(The preceding portion of the video is of interviews from crew still hoping for a Bomber Command Medal)

Of special interest to me are the interviews with Douglas Radcliffe MBE, secretary of the Bomber Command Association and who led memorial project and its fundraising
and that with T.C. Iveson, posted to 617 Squadron from July 1944 to February 1945, piloting 18 missions with the Dambusters alone!

Let's plan ahead and have as many members of this forum as possible meet there as a group to celebrate this occasion.
.
[video=vimeo;19476177]http://vimeo.com/19476177[/video]

 

I'm finally glad that my deceased great uncle Douglas and my surviving uncles Don and Frank can get the recognition they deserve for being bomber crew.

 

"A helicopter will land at the Royal Air Force Museum on Tuesday to deliver a wreath which is to form the centrepiece of a new national war memorial. The Chinook helicopter will bring the bronze wreath which will lie at the head of the Bomber Command Memorial, currently under construction in Green Park, central London.
The memorial will honour the 55,573 men of Bomber Command who lost their lives in the Second World War. It is now under construction and is due to be completed in time for a dedication and unveiling on Thursday June 28."
Bomber Command Memorial wreath flies into Hendon (From Times Series)

 

Great news indeed!

 

At last, this is great news.

 

It Is about time, they get the recognition they deserve !!!

 

BBC News Story Video, including a tour of the memorial during construction.
BBC News - Bomber Command memorial 'nearing completion'

Salute!

Dedication and unveiling on Thursday June 28th 2012.
Book your travel arrangements early. Flights and accomodation bookings will hopefully be swamped.
It would be wonderful to see London jammed from end to end for this occasion.

 

John Caudwell is the major benefactor of the RAF Bomber Command Memorial Home - Bomber Command Memorial Appeal which is currently being constructed in Green Park in London.
The memorial recognises the bravery of bomber crews during the Second World War - tens of thousands died.
Work has started, and hoardings erected.

But there's a bonus: around 100 yards of advertising panels highlighting the bravery of those crews in the past,
and an appeal for funds to help preserve and maintain the memorial into the future, and, alongside,
a series of panels highlighting the bravery of - and the future for - children with serious, life-threatening and terminal illnesses,
and appealing for funds for the charity set up by John, Caudwell Children - Home, which could change or save the lives of those children and their families.

[video=youtube;ZBCcyhNzIQc]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZBCcyhNzIQc[/video]

 

BOMBER COMMAND MEMORIAL STONE LAYING - A DIARY OF THE DAY and Lancaster Fly Over.

John Caudwell has become a major benefactor to the long-awaited memorial to RAF Bomber Command,
meaning construction will commence imminently, and the Memorial can now be completed by the middle of May 2012.

This video is a diary of the stone-laying ceremony.

The Memorial, designed by awarding-winning architect Liam O'Connor, and featuring a monumental bronze sculpture by Philip Jackson CVO,
will be situated at the western end of Green Park, alongside Piccadilly. It will represent a permanent memorial to the brave men and women
of RAF Bomber Command, whose heroic efforts during the Second World War will be properly recognised for the first time.

During the War, the aircrew of Bomber Command had an average age of twenty-two, and many were still teenagers.
More than half of them - 55,000 in number - died on operations or in training, or as a result of wounds sustained.
Many more were shot down, captured and held as prisoners of war.

John Caudwell said: "I'm honoured and delighted that my contribution has meant that such a significant memorial will go ahead,
and that it will go some way to highlighting the commitment and sacrifice of the extremely brave, and, in many cases, very young members of Bomber Command.
It is a long-overdue tribute to a group of people who helped shape the world we live in, and while it is incredibly lifting that such a memorial will now be constructed,
there is an element of sadness in that of those remaining crews who are with us today, many are of an age and in a state of health that they may not be with us to witness its unveiling in May 2012."

Entrepreneur and philanthropist John Caudwell sold his immensely successful mobile communications business
- which included high street mobile phone chain Phones 4u - in 2005, and now concentrates on charitable work.

In 2000, he founded Caudwell Children, which provides specialist equipment, treatment and therapies for sick and disabled children across the UK,
as well as "Destinations Dreams" holidays for children fighting life-threatening conditions.

Photos: Sir Stephen Dalton, John Caudwell. | Flickr - Photo Sharing!

Caudwell in fund raising climb record setting in English Electric Lightning. JOHN CAUDWELL: SETTING 9K ALTITUDE RECORD IN LIGHTNING FIGHTER JET - YouTube

[video=youtube;c_THUYYi_-k]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c_THUYYi_-k[/video]

 

From the Daily and Sunday Express March 14th 2012 Express.co.uk - Home of the Daily and Sunday Express | UK News :: Bomber Command veterans close to victory

BOMBER COMMAND VETERANS CLOSE TO VICTORY

THEY are the Magnificent Seven – Bomber Command veterans standing before a Lancaster as the campaign to fund a memorial to their lost comrades steps up a gear.


The vets, joined by Igraine Hamilton and Eileen Richards who served with the Women’s Auxiliary Air Force, could have formed a full crew.
Between them they defied all odds to fly over 200 missions. Gunner Warrant Officer Harry Irons alone completed 60.


Pilot Flt Lt George Dunn DFC flew 44 and bombaimer Wing Commander John Bell DFC flew 50, including eight flak-filled trips to Berlin.
Navigator Flt Lt Gordon Mellor was shot down in 1942 but resistance groups smuggled him back to Britain.
Wireless operator John Banfield was shot down and captured.
Flt Engineer Arthur Smith and rear gunner David Fellowes survived countless missions.

View attachment 16020


They met at the RAF Museum in Hendon to highlight the pre-publication launch of the commemorative book:
The Bomber Command Memorial – We Will Remember Them.

The stunning memorial is being built in London’s Green Park and is expected to be unveiled by the Queen at the end of June.

The public have given £6million, including £500,000 from Daily Express readers, which was matched by Daily Express owner Richard Desmond from his own pocket.


But the team still has to raise £1.5million to maintain the memorial.
The beautifully illustrated book details the history of Bomber Command and the campaign for a memorial.
Authors include Bee Gee Robin Gibb, 1970s pop star Jim Dooley, and military author Steve Darlow.

It is published on Remembrance Day and costs £19.95.
You can pre-order it at Fighting High Publishing, and £10 from every sale will go to the campaign.