Lincolnshire’s skies became a remarkable spectacle due to the UK’s only airworthy Lancaster bomber initiating a flypast. The ceremony was organised to inaugurate a brand-new, life-sized replica sculpture in Norton Disney. Titled ‘On Freedom’s Wings’, the sculpture was unravelled over the weekend; serving as a tribute to the RAF’s valiant bomber crews who honed their skills in Lincolnshire during World War Two. The artwork is devised to give the illusion of the aircraft mid-flight, heading back towards what used to be the RAF Swinderby base.
Claire Hartley, a devoted aircraft photographer who frequently shoots the RAF Coningsby’s Battle of Britain Memorial Flight and the Lincolnshire-based Red Arrows, captured the unique moment. She expressed her elation, saying, “I was filled with nerves, thinking I had just one chance. But I am truly satisfied with the results.”
The Battle of Britain Memorial Flight praised the Bomber County Gateway Trust, the body behind the sculpture. The Trust initially pitched the idea in 2018 to mark the RAF’s one-hundred-year anniversary. A spokesperson commented on their hard work, dedication, and persistence over the past eight years, calling the final outcome a magnificent tribute to Bomber Command’s men and women and their invaluable sacrifices.
Situated near the A46, between Lincoln and Newark, the statue serves as a powerful and touching reminder of the county’s rich aviation legacy, accessible to residents and tourists alike.
This narrative was tailored by The Lincoln Post from original reporting by www.bbc.com.
