War Dead From Bomber Command Honoured

The first national memorial dedicated to more than 50,000 fallen personnel from World War 2's Bomber Command has been unveiled.

The Queen and Duke of Edinburgh attended the ceremony in London's Green Park, which culminated in a poppy drop from the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight.

Some 55,573 airmen were killed during the Second World War bombing raids, close to half the number who served in Bomber Command.

In 1940, Winston Churchill said: "The fighters are our salvation but the bombers alone provide the means of victory."

But there had never been a national memorial dedicated to them and Churchill barely made reference to Bomber Command in his VE Day address.

Bomber Command veteran Dennis Wiltshire's frustration at the lack of recognition for his fallen colleagues is still evident.

He said: "I am quite disgusted we have had to wait 70 years for it. I think it is terrible."

For him, one thought governed all: it was them or us.

"You don't even think about who's down there, you're just looking after yourself," explained Mr Wiltshire.

"But since I've come home it’s been quite different. I've thought a lot about it. But then on the other hand he came over here and did the same to our families."

The lack of recognition or campaign medal for Bomber Command stems from tactics used under the Command of Arthur "Bomber" Harris - cities and its civilians were regular targets.

Critics argue the memorial is ostentatious and recognises tactics which resulted in the death of hundreds of thousands of innocent civilians.

But Mike Neville from the RAF Benevolent Fund which will maintain the memorial explained: "We must remember we were in a war of national survival."

'Rusty' Waughman volunteered for the RAF at 17. Soon, assigned to 101 Squadron & Bomber Command, one instinct became vital.

"Survival. Your mind really concentrated on surviving," he said.

"Fortunately my gunners were brilliant and we had five fighter attacks in one short period of time and you couldn't think anything apart from keeping your aircraft in one piece."