After almost eight years of hard work, fund raising and dedication, a project to design, procure, construct and install a life-size sculpture of a Lancaster Bomber at the county border of Lincolnshire from Nottinghamshire has been completed by the Bomber County Gateway Trust, a registered charity.
Funds have been donated by members of the general public, many with a family connection with RAF Bomber Command, and a large number of sponsors have provided services and huge amounts of goodwill. The sculpture was finally erected on high ground at Norton Disney on 6-7th September, where it is visible from the A46 road. The Lincolnshire Police officers who volunteered to escort the convoy carrying the abnormal load to its final destination gave up their rest day to do so. Two cranes lifted the artwork, which weighs more than 90 tons, into place on the previously installed base and steel supports. At 85ft (26m) long and with a 102ft (31m) wingspan, it is nine metres taller than the Angel of the North. It is tilted to give the impression that the aircraft is in flight, heading home to the nearby former RAF Swinderby airfield.
The sculpture represents Lancaster R5689 ‘VN-N’ of 50 Squadron, based at RAF Swinderby, one of the most photographed Lancasters of the war. On 19th September 1942, returning from a sea-mining “Gardening” mission over the Baltic Sea, both port engines of R5689 failed as it turned onto the final approach to land. The aircraft crashed in Thurlby Wood, just three miles away, at 01:30. Four of the seven crew were killed and the other three injured. By choosing to represent this particular aircraft, the Trust has ensured that the sculpture is not just symbolic, but is also deeply rooted in the area’s wartime past. “On Freedom’s Wings” is more than a sculpture, it is a beacon of remembrance, a symbol of sacrifice and a celebration of heritage. Seen by over 35,000 drivers daily, it will serve as a constant reminder of the courage, loss, and legacy of Bomber Command.
The BBMF has long been a supporter of the project and on 9th September, immediately after its completion, the Flight’s personnel were invited to view the sculpture, close up, at Norton Disney. The following day some of the Trust’s team visited the BBMF at Coningsby and were treated to a close-up tour of BBMF Lancaster PA474. On 11th September, during a scheduled sortie in the area, the BBMF Lancaster made three flypasts over the new sculpture, something that will no doubt occur again in the future.
