Major Sculpture Honoring WWII to Celebrate Grand Opening

A weekend of celebrations is set to mark the official opening of a £1 million sculpture dedicated to the legacy of the Second World War and the RAF Bomber Command. The event, organized by the Bomber County Gateway Trust, will take place from May 15 to 17, 2024, featuring the sculpture named On Freedom’s Wings, a full-scale replica of a Lancaster Bomber.

The sculpture was installed on a hillside in Norton Disney, overlooking the A46 near the border between Lincolnshire and Nottinghamshire, in September 2023. The project has spanned eight years, and the upcoming festivities will celebrate the dedication and effort of those involved in bringing the vision to life.

Charlie White, chairman of the Bomber County Gateway Trust, expressed gratitude for the community’s support. He noted, “It has taken over eight years from an initial idea to getting it in the sky. This is really a thank you and a celebration for everyone who put in the effort to help us get here, whether it was raising money or physical labour — especially as some of those people are sadly no longer with us.”

The weekend will kick off with a special Black Tie Ball on May 15, featuring a three-course dinner, live music, and an auction. This event will be open to the public, with tickets sold to cover costs and ensure that funds raised for the project remain intact.

On May 16, the public will be invited to the official opening ceremony, which will include speeches and a dedication by the Bishop of Nottingham. Following the ceremony, attendees can enjoy a traditional afternoon tea accompanied by music. Due to anticipated high interest, this event will require tickets to manage visitor numbers effectively.

The celebration will conclude on May 17 with a relaxed afternoon featuring a barbecue, music, dancing, and an informative talk about the journey of On Freedom’s Wings. Attendees will also have the opportunity to engage with the trustees and ask questions about the project.

Significantly, May 15 marks eight years since Johnny Johnson, known as the “Last Dambuster,” initiated the groundbreaking ceremony for the sculpture in 2018. The dates of May 16 and 17 also coincide with the anniversary of the historic Dambusters Raid, where Lancasters from 617 Squadron targeted German dams in 1943 using the innovative ‘bouncing bomb’ technique.

While the sculpture itself was erected last year, additional landscaping and infrastructure are currently being developed to ensure visitor safety and accessibility. The Trust is seeking approval to install pathways and a car park, as well as to implement traffic management strategies. If approved, these enhancements will allow for a more controlled flow of visitors to the site.

In the lead-up to the grand opening, the Bomber County Gateway Trust will host open days for those interested in viewing the sculpture up close. These will occur on March 14, March 22, April 11, and April 25, from 10:00 to 15:00 each day. A special day for blue badge holders will be available on March 18, which can be booked directly through the Trust.

The upcoming celebrations represent not just the culmination of a significant community project but also a tribute to the bravery and history associated with the RAF Bomber Command.