Descendants of Second World War airman ‘proud and emotional’ seeing On Freedom’s Wings sculpture on Nottinghamshire and Lincolnshire border

The descendants of a Second World War airman whose bomber inspired a new landmark sculpture were “proud and emotional” at seeing the finished work of art.

Over the weekend, hundreds gathered for a special ceremony at On Freedom’s Wings before the site opens to visitors this summer.

The full-scale replica of a Lancaster Bomber, on a hillside overlooking the A46, was built by the Bomber County Gateway Trust in tribute to the servicemen and women of RAF Bomber Command who served across Nottinghamshire and Lincolnshire.

The sculpture is modelled after the Lancaster VN-N, which crashed near the site in the early hours of September 19, 1942, while returning to RAF Swinderby from a mine-laying mission in the Baltic Sea.

On that night, VN-N’s two portside engines failed while on final approach — and this is mimicked on the 29m tall sculpture, with only two of the four engines depicted in motion.

Four of the seven crew members died in the crash, and their descendants were invited to be part of the weekend’s dedication ceremony.

Among those in attendance were the daughter-in-law and grandchildren of Air Bomber Sgt Harry Male, who died aged 30.

Seeing the sculpture complete, Harry’s grandaughter, Kaythrn Baker, said it made her feel “awesomely proud, but somewhat emotional”.

“This would have been a landscape many would be familiar with — Lancaster’s flying low over head, including VN-N,” she said.

“To think that my grandad would have seen this landscape many, many times, it is quite an emotional feeling.”

The family had travelled from Hampshire for the weekend, and it was their first time seeing the sculpture — which they had only discovered while researching Harry’s service.

“It is magnificent,” Kathryn added. “We are very thankful for the team that has made this happen.”

Liz Male, Harry’s daughter-in-law, said: “I don’t think they had the recognition they deserved, the crews and the people of RAF Bomber Command.

“Everyone played their part, and it’s good that now they get that recognition.”

There was also a heartwarming moment as Friday’s dedication ceremony concluded with a special performance of a piece of music which was originally written by Harry Male in the 1930s.

“It was wonderful, and very heartwarming,” Liz added.

“It was the first time we heard it played. If Keith [Harry’s son] had been here, he would have had tears in his eyes.”

Harry Male was killed in the crash alongside flight engineer Sgt Sidney Charles Garrett, 22, air gunner Flight Sgt James Reginald Gibbons, 24, and observer Flying Officer George William Marshall Harrison, 22.