The International Bomber Command Centre (IBCC), near Lincoln, has installed a tribute to the Dambusters to mark the 80th anniversary, on 16/17 May, of this iconic operation.
The figures of the 53 men who lost their lives have been produced by a collaboration between Standing with Giants artist, Dan Barton, and military artist, Simon Smith.
The central focus is that of the crew of ED887 AJ-A who successfully breached the Möhne Dam. It was piloted by Sqn Ldr Henry Melvin “Dinghy” Young. The crew were hit only 200 yards from safety when the last land-based gun battery, at Wijk-aan-Zee, scored a hit. These figures and those of Wg Cdr Guy Gibson VC, DSO & Bar, DFC & Bar and Bouncing Bomb inventor, Barnes Wallis, have been created from their photographs.
This installation follows the huge success of the Standing with Giants silhouettes for the 40th anniversary of the Falklands’ War, that were on display at the IBCC from October 22 to March 23.
In line with the new King’s wishes, this was a volunteer led project with 20 volunteers from Standing With Giants and the IBCC working on the installation to get it ready in time for the anniversary.
The installation, which is free to visit, will be in place until mid-August.
They will be officially unveiled at the annual InSpire event on 14 May as part of a Memorial service for Sqn Ldr George “Johnny” Johnson MBE DFM, the last Dambuster who was a great supporter of the IBCC and was Patron of the InSpire event.
