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Queen to unveil Bomber Command memorial | Queen to unveil Bomber Command memorial |
(about 4 hours later) | |
A £6m memorial to the 55,573 airmen of Bomber Command who died fighting Nazi Germany is to be unveiled by the Queen. | A £6m memorial to the 55,573 airmen of Bomber Command who died fighting Nazi Germany is to be unveiled by the Queen. |
She will be joined by royals including the Prince of Wales at the dedication ceremony in London's Green Park. | She will be joined by royals including the Prince of Wales at the dedication ceremony in London's Green Park. |
Some 6,000 veterans and families of the deceased will see a Lancaster Bomber drop 82,000 poppies in a flypast. | |
Britain's policy of large-scale area bombing near the end of World War II has been criticised by some, stalling progress on a memorial for decades. | Britain's policy of large-scale area bombing near the end of World War II has been criticised by some, stalling progress on a memorial for decades. |
Veterans from Australia, New Zealand, Canada and other Commonwealth countries who served alongside the British crew will also attend the ceremony. | |
The memorial, designed by Liam O'Connor, built in Portland stone features a bronze 9ft high sculpture of seven aircrew. | The memorial, designed by Liam O'Connor, built in Portland stone features a bronze 9ft high sculpture of seven aircrew. |
It also has a roof made from aluminium reclaimed from a Handley Page Halifax III bomber shot down over Belgium in May 1944. | It also has a roof made from aluminium reclaimed from a Handley Page Halifax III bomber shot down over Belgium in May 1944. |
An inscription says it "also commemorates those of all nations who lost their lives in the bombing of 1939-1945". | An inscription says it "also commemorates those of all nations who lost their lives in the bombing of 1939-1945". |
Pilot Alan Biffen, 87, said: "I am so glad that at long last Bomber Command is being remembered not only for what it achieved but also for the lives of the young men who never came back. | |
"Many of them were boys. I myself added a year to my age at 16 so that I could join the air force." | "Many of them were boys. I myself added a year to my age at 16 so that I could join the air force." |
Almost half of the 125,000 men of Bomber Command died dodging night fighters and anti-aircraft fire in raids over occupied Europe. | Almost half of the 125,000 men of Bomber Command died dodging night fighters and anti-aircraft fire in raids over occupied Europe. |
The ceremony is the culmination of a five-year campaign, spearheaded by the late singer Robin Gibb. | The ceremony is the culmination of a five-year campaign, spearheaded by the late singer Robin Gibb. |
The Bomber Command Memorial Appeal secured funding from public donations and private donors John Caudwell, Lord Ashcroft and Richard Desmond. | The Bomber Command Memorial Appeal secured funding from public donations and private donors John Caudwell, Lord Ashcroft and Richard Desmond. |
There were no campaign medals for Bomber Command after the war and no mention of them in Churchill's victory speech. | There were no campaign medals for Bomber Command after the war and no mention of them in Churchill's victory speech. |
The unit was criticised by some for raids on Dresden in the closing months of the war. | The unit was criticised by some for raids on Dresden in the closing months of the war. |
The fire-storms caused by the RAF and US Army Air Force killed about 25,000 civilians destroying the city centre. | The fire-storms caused by the RAF and US Army Air Force killed about 25,000 civilians destroying the city centre. |
The event will end with a flypast by five GR4 Tornado bomber aircraft and the RAF's last flying Lancaster Bomber, which will drop the poppies over the park in remembrance for the aircrew lost. | The event will end with a flypast by five GR4 Tornado bomber aircraft and the RAF's last flying Lancaster Bomber, which will drop the poppies over the park in remembrance for the aircrew lost. |
The RAF Benevolent Fund will take over guardianship of the memorial. | The RAF Benevolent Fund will take over guardianship of the memorial. |