Parade Veterans To View Model Memorial
National Service (RAF) Association Parade Sunday 4th July 2010
Spitfire Display 1.00pm (weather permitting)
A scale model of the recently commissioned Bomber Command Memorial will be on display at the Royal Air Force Museum Cosford as part of the National Service (RAF) Association parade taking place on Sunday 4th July 2010.
The model will be on display in the Museum’s Hangar 1 and Project Coordinator David Forsyth, an MOD civilian who works in the RAF’s Directorate of Air Staff will be there to speak with veterans and visitors about the project and answer any questions they may have.
The Bomber Command Memorial, scheduled for construction in London’s Green Park, commemorates the 55,573 aircrew who made the ultimate sacrifice in World War II. Including bronze sculptures depicting seven aircrew members as well as parts of a Halifax bomber shot down over Belgium in May 1944, this landmark Memorial is long overdue.
The Cosford Parade will commence at 11am with participants asked to fall in between the Airfield Hangars. This year, veterans parade in the presence of the Chief of the Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal Sir Stephen Dalton, KCB, BSc, FRAeS, RAF who will be accompanied by Air Commodore CH Green, the Commandant of DCAE Cosford.
The parade will be led by the Central Band of the Royal Air Force with visitors and guests also able to view a display by the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight Spitfire, scheduled for 1.00pm (weather permitting). The National ATC Championship Marching Band from Royton in Lancashire will entertain guests both before and after the parade with a dizzying display of marching, commencing at 9.45am.
This event first came to the Royal Air Force Museum Cosford in 2004 and has grown in strength each subsequent year. Last year, over 3,000 guests attended of which 600 or more presented themselves for the parade. All Veterans who served in the Royal Air Force are welcome to participate in the parade, providing them with the opportunity of being re-united with lost friends and colleagues. Members of the public are welcome to spectate.
National Veterans Organisations, as well as many training camp associations will be represented in Hangar 1 alongside displays of memorabilia and the Museum shop. On completion of the formal events, guests will have access to the whole RAF Museum site to catch up with old friends, exchange news and view the exhibits.
The Museum gates will open at 9am on Sunday 4th July 2010, although the Museum itself will open at 10am. Museum entry is free. For further information, please call the Royal Air Force Museum Cosford on 01902 376200 or visit the museum website at www.rafmuseum.org.