On Thursday 6th June our activity was a visit to The Bomber Command Centre in Lincoln. We started with a guided tour around the grounds followed by a talk which covered the role of the Air Force before, during and after D Day.
The grounds include a ‘Dig for Britain’ garden complete with an Anderson Shelter.
David Wormall was able to reminisce about the ‘comforts’ of sleeping in a 6 x 4 foot shelter during the war. Our guide was so impressed that he asked if he would be willing to record an oral history of his wartime experiences for their records.
At the heart of the International Bomber Command Centre are the Memorial Spire and Walls of Names which records the details of 57,861 Bomber Command deaths during WWII. The Spire is 102 feet high, the wingspan of the Avro Lancaster Bomber. It commands stunning views across Lincoln, with a focus on the City’s ancient Cathedral, which served as a sighting point for crews flying from Lincolnshire. For many of the men named on the accompanying walls, the Cathedral provided their last sight of Britain.
After time spent in the Exhibition Hall we convened for lunch and a drink before our return journey.
Our thanks to Tony Whilde for organising this activity.