Life-Size Lancaster Bomber Sculpture Unveiled Lincolnshire Honors WW2 RAF Crews

A life-sized steel sculpture of a Lancaster Bomber, named On Freedom's Wings, has been erected near Norton Disney on the Nottinghamshire/Lincolnshire border to honor World War Two RAF bomber crews who served in the region, known as Bomber County. The 30-meter tall sculpture, with a 31-meter wingspan, is designed to appear as if it is flying home to the nearby former RAF Swinderby base, inspired by a Lancaster that crashed locally in 1942. The project was the result of an eight-year fundraising and construction effort led by the Bomber County Gateway Trust, with significant engineering contributions from local companies. The sculpture can be seen by about 34,000 motorists daily from the A46, and plans include a visitor center with landscaping and educational information about the history and engineering of the aircraft. The installation commemorates the sacrifices of the 55,000 Bomber Command aircrew killed during the war, highlighting the perilous nature of their missions and the historical significance of the Lancaster bomber. The site is currently a construction area and is expected to open fully to the public in autumn, with access managed due to the surrounding farmland.