The Project Launch
On May 30th 2013, on the anniversary of the first 1,000 Bomber raid, the Lincolnshire Bomber Command Memorial project launched under the wings of Just Jane at the Lincolnshire Aviation Heritage Centre, East Kirkby. Over 300 guests from across Lincolnshire and beyond heard the background to the project, a speech from 103 Sqn Flight Engineer veteran, Syd Marshall. Syd described what it was like to fly for hours in the dark, apprehensive and nervous. He talked about the bond between the crew and how that kept them going through everything. He described seeing a Lancaster fall down in flames having been hit by a bomb from another Lancaster above.
Not one noise could be heard from the guests, throughout his speech.
Syd said: “I am delighted that there will, at last, be somewhere to tell people all about Bomber Command and let them find out more about those people that served, many of them losing their lives in the process.
“We have been forgotten for such a long time that to have the facility to tell our story is hugely important.”
Syd Marshall and his daughter
Other speakers included Lord Lieutenant of Lincolnshire and founder of the project, Tony Worth and Trustee, ACM Sir Stuart Peach.
One of the guests, Anthony Boardman, had won his tickets to the event via a competition run on the project’s Facebook page. He had travelled all the way from Woodbridge in Cheshire!
Entertainment was provided by the RAF Waddington Voluntary Band
The catering on the night was done by students from Boston College, who did a fabulous job and gained points towards their qualifications.
Also attending was Sqn Ldr Leslie Valentine CdeG (pictured) and Sqn Ldr Cyril Peters DFC
The video created for the launch can be found here
Coverage of the event by Ed Wellman at Siren FM can be heard here
To read more about Sqn Ldr Leslie Valentine click here