This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-18600871#sa-ns_mchannel=rss&ns_source=PublicRSS20-sa

The article has changed 15 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 6 Version 7
Queen unveils RAF Bomber Command memorial Queen unveils RAF Bomber Command memorial
(40 minutes later)
A £6m memorial to the 55,573 airmen of Bomber Command who died during World War II has been unveiled by the Queen.A £6m memorial to the 55,573 airmen of Bomber Command who died during World War II has been unveiled by the Queen.
She arrived for the dedication ceremony in London's Green Park, along with royals including Prince Charles. At the ceremony, Chief of the Air Staff Sir Stephen Dalton said the "service and raw courage" of those who died and surviving veterans had been recognised.
Some 6,000 veterans and families of the deceased will see a Lancaster Bomber drop thousands of poppies in a flypast. Some 6,000 veterans and families of the deceased watched a Lancaster Bomber drop thousands of 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. Criticism by some of large-scale area bombing by the RAF near the end of WWII stalled plans for a memorial for years.
Veterans from Australia, New Zealand, Canada and other countries who served alongside the British crew are also attending the ceremony. Veterans from Australia, New Zealand, Canada and other countries who served alongside the British crew also attended the ceremony.
Air Chief Marshal Dalton said: "Many of those who gave us our freedom, and to whom this memorial is dedicated, cannot join us physically, but their spirit is certainly here.
"With the building and unveiling of this magnificent memorial, they will now know that this country and the Commonwealth have shown them and the remaining veterans that their service and their raw courage has been recognised. It is also true that their dedication to doing their duty has truly been acknowledged.
"For their bravery and sacrifice which helped to give us our freedom, we will never forget them. Indeed, we will remember them."
'All nations' honoured
The memorial, designed by Liam O'Connor and built in Portland stone, features a bronze 9ft-high sculpture of seven aircrew.The memorial, designed by Liam O'Connor and built in Portland stone, features a bronze 9ft-high sculpture of seven aircrew.
Sculptor Philip Jackson said his work was intended to be reflective and so portrayed the men after they had returned from a mission.Sculptor Philip Jackson said his work was intended to be reflective and so portrayed the men after they had returned from a mission.
"I chose the moment when they get off the aircraft and they've dumped all their heavy kit onto the ground, and they're looking back and looking for their comrades.""I chose the moment when they get off the aircraft and they've dumped all their heavy kit onto the ground, and they're looking back and looking for their comrades."
Thousands of Bomber Command veterans and their families are gathered in a "salute area" of Green Park ahead of the unveiling.
The memorial is a short walk away, and the dedication by the Queen in front of about 900 people will be relayed on a big screen.
The event was organised by the RAF Benevolent Fund which will look after maintenance of the memorial and is now seeking to raise £1.5m to help cover costs.
The Dambusters theme was played as TV's Carol Vorderman came on stage to host a programme of entertainment for the veterans.
They have been promised a visit from the Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall and will later get a chance to visit the memorial themselves.
Amanda Brierley, 42, from Lancashire, has come to honour the memory of her grandfather Arthur Davies, a former rear gunner who died 15 years ago.
"I'm here because he would have been here," she says. "He did think a memorial was missing."
The memorial also has a roof made of aluminium reclaimed from a Handley Page Halifax III bomber shot down over Belgium in May 1944.The memorial also has a roof made of 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.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, many killed by 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 Bee Gees singer Robin Gibb.The ceremony is the culmination of a five-year campaign, spearheaded by the late Bee Gees 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.
Raids criticised There were no campaign medals for Bomber Command after the war and no mention of it in Prime Minister Winston Churchill's victory speech.
There were no campaign medals for Bomber Command after the war and no mention of them in then-Prime Minister Winston Churchill's victory speech. It was criticised by some for raids on Dresden in the closing months of the war, causing fire-storms which killed about 25,000 civilians in the destruction of the city centre.
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 in the destruction of the city centre.
Speaking at Green Park ahead of the dedication ceremony, Bomber Command veteran Cecil Hayley agreed the memorial was about reconciliation as well as remembrance.Speaking at Green Park ahead of the dedication ceremony, Bomber Command veteran Cecil Hayley agreed the memorial was about reconciliation as well as remembrance.
"I sometimes look back in horror to think what I was required to do. But, it was what we were trying to do ... it was part of the task of finishing the war and I console myself that this is what we had to do.""I sometimes look back in horror to think what I was required to do. But, it was what we were trying to do ... it was part of the task of finishing the war and I console myself that this is what we had to do."
Bomber Command Association chairman Malcolm White said it was clear that the memorial's message included a sense of reconciliation.Bomber Command Association chairman Malcolm White said it was clear that the memorial's message included a sense of reconciliation.
"That's why it's writ large on the wall, 'We remember those of all countries who died in 39-45,'" he said."That's why it's writ large on the wall, 'We remember those of all countries who died in 39-45,'" he said.
He said he had been in touch with the mayor of Dresden and spoken to media in the German city as part of the project.He said he had been in touch with the mayor of Dresden and spoken to media in the German city as part of the project.
"Let's put it in the modern context; let's not forget the sacrifice of those who this memorial remembers," he added. Councillor Alastair Moss defended Westminster Council's decision to grant planning permission to the memorial, saying it "reflects what the majority of today's public want to say about bravery, sacrifice and suffering."
Councillor Alastair Moss defended Westminster Council's decision to grant planning permission to the memorial.
"Since our decision, this memorial has been the subject of controversy by a vocal minority who have unfortunately distracted from its significance," he said.
"We believe Westminster Council was absolutely right to grant consent for a monument which reflects what the majority of today's public want to say about bravery, sacrifice and suffering."
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.
A special programme about today's ceremony, Bomber Command: A Tribute, is being shown at 17:00 BST on BBC Two on Thursday.A special programme about today's ceremony, Bomber Command: A Tribute, is being shown at 17:00 BST on BBC Two on Thursday.
Will you be visiting the memorial today? Do you know someone who was from Bomber Command? Please send us your comments using the form below.Will you be visiting the memorial today? Do you know someone who was from Bomber Command? Please send us your comments using the form below.
Send your pictures and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124 (UK) or +44 7624 800 100 (International). If you have a large file you can upload here.Send your pictures and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124 (UK) or +44 7624 800 100 (International). If you have a large file you can upload here.
Read the terms and conditionsRead the terms and conditions