For The "BOMBER BOYS" ALL MEMBERS PLEASE READ

Tens of thousands of airmen who died during the RAF bombing campaign against Germany in the Second World War should be honoured with a permanent national memorial, survivors and campaigners have launched a drive to build a monument to the 54,378 men of Bomber Command who died on raids to cripple Germany's industry.

Read more for details on donations:

If you wish to make a donation via the Heritage Foundations charitable trust to this worthwhile cause you may do so on their credit card hotline 01902 451332 and state the donation to be for The Bomber Command Memorial Appeal. Or contact David Graham on 01494 714388.
You may also send a cheque direct to Douglas Radcliffe MBE, Secretary of The Bomber Command Association, RAF Museum, Graheme Parkway, Hendon, London. NW9 5LL
Cheque should be made payable to The Bomber Command Memorial Appeal Fund.

Related links:

Airmen killed over Germany 'deserve memorial' - Telegraph

Daily Express: The World's Greatest Newspaper :: Music :: Bee Gee Robin's concert for the bomber boys

The Heritage Foundation

 

UMM if this is considering soliciting Let me know and remove it.. it isnt my intent to solicit funds for myself, but i sure feel these brave men need a memorial to the lasting memory of theyre valor and sacrifice

 

No problem Mortman, this is a very honorable posting. I just wish the journalists were a bit cautious when they write their headlines. These airman died over many countries and are buried all over Europe, not just Germany. The MIA already have a monument at Runnymede and many crews have local memorials too, but this is the first time that something is suggested for all of them at the same place.

 

I have always supported the award of a Campaign Medal for the Bomber Command crews, they certainly deserve it, but have I mixed feelings over the creation of another piece street/park sculpture for a Bomber Command Memorial.

Where will this structure be placed, certainly somewhere in London, whereas the action was occurring in Cambrideshire, Lincolnshire etc.

Who will have access to these sites, certainly it will be difficult for the Commonwealth and other contingents who make up 31% of the casualties.

In this virtual era perhaps it is time to provide a virtual memorial. The Commonwealth War Graves Commission already has most of the necessary data, and this could be extracted and presented in a sympathetic and searchable format.

The underlying fault with all of the above options is the concentration on the deceased and its lack of ability to convey our thanks and recognition to the survivors, and to what they had to endure.

I have taken several years to construct a site on just one of the RAF Squadrons 156 Squadron RAF - 8 Group Pathfinder Force and whilst building this site I have come across many stories, usually from the ORB's or the citation details which hopefully give people a picture of how the Squadron operated. Crews came and were cut down, sometimes after one mission sometimes after 60 or more.

Perhaps a more fitting memorial would be giving all the other Squadrons the same treatment. This is a suggestion often repeated on my message board.

Robin Riley 156 Squadron RAF - 8 Group Pathfinder Force

 

Some rally nice idea sRobin. I like the virtual idea too, although I wish that would be an addtional rather than a replacement. Giving all squadrons the same treatment would seem the fairest thing to do. What about a similar monument in all nations that sent men to Bomber Command?

 

Nice post Mike i agree somthing needs to be done i thought Skipper had a good idea.

 

How about a traveling Memorial Like they have with some of the vietnam veterans memorials... A monument is basicly a Tool to Educate AND remeber theyre Sacrifices and brave deeds.... its the memory and education of furthur generations and the instillation of pride and maybe even some of the core values these men had on our young people that is the true memorial in my mind

 

Sounds like a great idea mike, i know for sure in this country ww2 all round is not taught enough in our schools, and making the young and others who are so UNAWARE of the SACRIFICE made by the likes of the bomber boys more aware can never be a bad thing.

 

if it was not for service men like them we would not have the freedom we have today

 

I hope you are not going to forget the ground crew's, theirs was a thankless job. The aircraft were seldom in the hangar, and needed servicing out side in all weather conditions, imagine yourself having a quick breakfast, then cycling three or four miles to your kite, then having to change the spark plugs on say a Stirling in the rain, remember you are 20 feet off the ground, you may be lucky and have a tempory shelter to have a cuppa in but probably not, no kudos for you , the aircraft would stay on the ground if it wasn't for those lad's. DONT FORGET THEM.

 

Heres my take IF you served ANY place in bomber command from Typist to Commmander YOU need to be THANKED....

 

let them have their peace man