For much of World War Two RAF Bomber
Command was the only means of taking the war to Germany
and brought immense heart not only to the home population
but also to the millions suffering under the Nazi yoke in
Occupied Europe.
Despite the huge sacrifice in
lives lost, POWs, physical and mental injuries and lives
shattered, there is as yet no national memorial to those
who served on Bomber Command, in particular those who
lost their lives on operations or as groundcrew.
Bomber Command Association
and the Heritage Foundation
Bomber Command Association
The Association is working with the Heritage Foundation's Appeal
for the Bomber Command Memorial.
Heritage FoundationRobin
Gibb CBE, President of the Heritage Foundation
for 2008, is very committed to a Bomber Command Memorial and is
working to support the Appeal for it.
How may I contribute to the Appeal?
You may send a cheque to Douglas Radcliffe MBE, Secretary of The
Bomber Command Association, RAF Museum, Grahame Park Way, Hendon,
London. NW9 5LL.
Cheques should be made payable to The Bomber Command Memorial
Appeal Fund.
Dying for a noble cause is not the
worst thing,
being forgotten is. Inscription on a Bomber Command
Memorial in Buckinghamshire
Bomber Command Association
14 June 2008 Bomber Command Association AGM David Graham, a Trustee of the Heritage Foundation,
addressing the AGM, reported that some £160,000 had already been
raised towards the Fund. He drew attention an article in that
day's Times.
from Newsletter 55 Spring 2008, p5 Bomber Command Memorial: the Story so Far The first meeting to discuss the proposal for a memorial
to the 55,500 killed in Bomber Command in WWII took place earlier
this year in the RAF Club. Our President, Sir Michael Beetham
attended, along with David Graham, the Chairman of the Heritage
Foundation, the Lord Taylor of Warwick and Robin Gibb.
Later in February filming and interviewing took
place at the RAF Museum, Sir Michael Beetham and member John
Nichol contributing to the requirements of the various interested
Websites. We are pleased that Alec Lom of the Daily Telegraph
pioneered the reason for a Bomber Command Memorial to their
readership.
The Lord Selkirk, Lord Craig and Lord Mackie
placed the memorial quest before the House, where it was well
received, and we may be assured with the campaign gaining pace,
we will be well represented.
On the first Sunday in March Sir Michael Beetham
and Chairman, Tony Iveson, attended an evening dinner at Sonning,
arranged by member Eileen Richards and with excellent
entertainment by member Sally Hughes. This most successful
evening ended with Sir Michael receiving a cheque for the
memorial fund for £20,000.
The Memorial Committee was officially established
on the 4th April at the Royal Air Force Museum. The next meeting
will take place at the RAF Club this month. There will be a
section of this newsletter dedicated to the memorial to keep
members abreast of the latest developments.
SAGA magazine, May 2008 If you were a member of a Bomber Command aircrew your
chances of surviving the Second World War unscathed were less
than one in two. Of a total force of 125,000, all volunteers,
54,378 were killed and 8,408 injured. Yet there is no national
memorial to them. If you agree that there should be, the campaign
to lobby the Government to establish one by calling 01494 714
388, or contacting david@theheritagefoundation.co.uk
HELP US ALONG THE WAY... HOW?
By sending a donation to Bomber Command Memorial Fund, The Bomber
Command Association. RAF Museum, Grahame Park Way, Hendon. London
NW9 5LL.
All donations will be acknowledged.
