March 27th 2012, 1100hrs The Exeter Airport Memorial was unveiled by the Chairman of Devon County Council Cllr Jeremy Yabsley and The Right Worshipful Lord Mayor of Exeter Cllr Stella Brock.
The Rev Richard Peckham the S.W.A.H.T padre carried out the dedication and wreathes were laid by the Chairman of Devon County Council, The worshipful Lord Mayor of Exeter City, Richard Kornicki representing the Polish Air Force Association, Mrs Vera Cook for the Royal Air Force Association, Lt Jerry Tribe R.N.R. for the Fleet Air Arm and Ralph Howard Williams for the Royal British Legion. The Bugler was Air Cadet James Caple. Two Standard Bearers were in attendance Ralph Cox for the Devonshire Royal British Legion and Ian Dyer for the Devonshire Royal Air Force Association. The exhortation was given by Squadron Leader Keith Lawrence a Battle of Britain Pilot who lives in Exeter. Also in attendance was Cllr Peter Halse Chairman of the East Devon District Council, Wing Commander Brian Wills-Pope of Devon and Somerset RAF Cadets.
The ceremony concluded with the handing over of the custody of the monument to the managing director of Exeter Airport Matt Roach,
Robin Gilbert and Mike Venn who worked on this project relax with their respective partners after the event that was attended by around sixty invited guests.
READ THE MARCH 2012 update below
Exeter International Airport was the site of RAF Exeter during World War Two and played a major role in the defense of our island and the liberation of Nazi occupied Western Europe.
In an attempt to enlighten visitors and future generations who will be passing through the airport, the South West Airfields Heritage Trust is promoting a memorial, ensuring the historic integrity of this very important World War Two airfield is explained and maintained.
Additionally it will act as a well earned tribute to all those from many nations, who served at RAF Exeter during that period including, the Battle of Britain (July-Oct 1940).
This website seeks to play its part in fund raising and promoting this worthy cause.
Few people are aware that twenty two fighter pilots who came from many nations including Belgium, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Poland and U.K. were killed from R.A.F. Exeter during the Battle of Britain, among them a Squadron Leader and a Wing Commander possibly the most senior Officer killed during that short period from any RAF base in Britain.
Considerable air crew losses still continued until the end of the war five years later.
The Trust has set aside a memorial fund so that any monies raised will go directly to this project.
About the Memorial
Location of the proposed RAF Exeter memorial
Our design depicts a fighter pilot who has returned from a major defensive mission during August 1940 over Portland, when 14 Hurricane fighters were scrambled from Exeter to confront over one hundred enemy bombers and fighters.
During that mission Exeter lost four planes and three pilots. The sculpture is intended to show a pilot who made a safe return scanning the sky for his missing comrades. The plinth is designed to carry up to six plaques, thereby giving an opportunity to explain the history and acknowledge all those who served from there.
We will be seeking to raise £50,000 to enable the memorial to be built. Both Corporate and private donations are welcomed. As of September 17th 2011 considerable progress has been made, a recent break through has been achieved by the offer of the provision of the hexagonal plinth by local based business’s working together, this is a very welcome donation, we look forward to releasing the full details of the Companies involved. If an Exeter area based electrician happens to look in on this site and may consider helping us with advise and the provision of lighting we would be delighted to hear from them.
How to contact us or donate
If you care to make a donation by a cheque please make it payable to ‘The S.W.A.H.T Memorial Fund’ and post it to:
SWAHT c/o Robin Gilbert
Hill View
Seavington St Michael
Ilminster
Somerset TA19 0QB
Tel 01460 242042
All donations will be acknowledged.
Progress so far
March 27th 2012 our mission is complete and we are pleased to report that East Devon District Council are also making a contribution of two thousand pounds towards the memorial, so the outstanding deficit for the Trust is now closing, in other words we should soon be able to pay our accounts!!
February 2012
We are delighted to tell you that the we shall soon be announcing an unveiling date.
Also that the Exeter City Council has now allocated some funding towards the monument, this is great news as we close in on our financial commitments.
These were reduced a little because vital underground services were located under the site provided, so we were requested to forego the hard surround leaving the monument set within the grass.
We understand the the airport management will monitor how well the grass stands up to any human traffic.
It has always been understood that the monument may have to be re-sited some time in the future to fit in with any future development at the airport and has been designed accordingly.
Once the unveiling date is announced invitations to attend the unveiling ceremony will be sent. With a priority to those who have donated fifty pounds or over towards the project. This is because of having to limit numbers to fit the space available, and the close proximity to the short stay car park entrance and exit.
January 2012
The last month’s have been spent dealing with a number of issues that needed resolving, fortunately we now feel that the end is in sight and our target is completion early this year.
With the tightening of the current financial situation raising all the money is not proving to be easy, but we have been very encouraged by local business’s that have come to our aid.
This began with an offer of help from Paul Clay who along with his son Jedd specialize in iron work under the trade name Classic Gates and Railings based at Clapham near Exeter. Not only did Paul offer to build the plinth he also pulled in favours from his suppliers, Dyfed Steels South West who donated the steel, South West Galvanizers of Crediton have agreed to galvanize the plinth free of charge and Exeter based First Choice Finishes at Exhibition Way Pinhoe are donating the finished coating.
We would also like to commend Steve Pedler of A One Electrical Exeter who having been approached has also agreed to help us should we require lighting. It is this type of generosity that is enabling us to proceed in what surely is a long over due tribute to those who served from RAF Exeter during WWII.
If you are among those who have pledged money, we would be very grateful if you would consider making your donation available as we are still seeking additional funds.
At this point the Trust would like to publicly acknowledge the hard work put in by Mrs Beryl Pym that has enabled us to progress this far.
September 2011
On the 5th September the memorial project was featured on BBC Spotlight TV, for those who were watching they had a small preview of the clay model going through the mould taking. It seems a pity that this process destroys the clay model for the short piece of film showed the pilots right arm cut off at the elbow. Have no fear it will be attached on the bronze statue.
A great deal of progress has taken place over the summer months and the final efforts of local sculptor Frances Margaret in creating a Battle of Britain pilot sculpture has been approved by the Trust and the Airport management. The complicated process of making the mould prior to the statue being cast in bronze is now at an advanced stage and should be completed shortly. Once the statue is cast in bronze this will complete stage one of the project.
Our concentration must now turn to the informative plinth and ancillary site work.
I am afraid we are still in need of more funding to enable us to complete this project, If you or your organization can help us in any way please get in touch.
May 2011 The project is still on going, early this month two WWII fighter pilots had the opportunity to meet the sculptor and express their opinions of the maquette and take a peek at the full sized wax model in the very early stages of development.
The position regarding funding remains unchanged and means that additional funds are still required to complete the project. We have been fortunate that some individuals and small organizations have dipped into their pockets as well as the two main sponsors to date, thus helping us on our way. If you are sympathetic to the cause please consider making a donation by contacting Beryl Pym.
This project has been on going now for over four years during that period not one penny of the funds raised has been touched for expenses or administration.
March 2011
The maquette has been cast and the deposit paid for the main sculpture the construction of this will start in April and hopefully be completed by the end of the summer. More funds are still required to complete this project so if you feel you can help, please contact Mrs Pym
Feb 2011
This project has now been granted up to twenty thousand pounds by the Devon County Council in response to a funding request initially promised during 2007 from funds raised from the sale of the Airport
Jan 2011
This project has just had a considerable boost by a very generous donation of eight thousand pounds from the Polish Air Force Association. We now very much request that anyone who might feel inclined to make a contribution to contact us. We still have to raise considerably more funds before we can fulfill this worthy project.
Nov 2010
The maquette is now ready to be checked over at the Royal Air Force Museum London for accuracy. Once approved it will be cast in bronze and used for fund raising. All contributions are very welcome large or small, a credit card system will soon be in place on this web site.
Oct 2010
Local sculptor Francis Margaret has now been invited to produce the centre piece and has already made very good progress on the maquette.
04 August 2010
East Devon District Council has granted the planning application for the memorial to be established. The South West Airfields Heritage Trust are now fund raising for the creation of the memorial.
May 2010
Exeter International Airport kindly gives permission to use the land for the memorial.
7 comments
Mac MacDonald
February 3, 2011 at 3:13 pm (UTC 0) Link to this comment
Delighted to learn that a memorial is to be created for display at Exeter Airport and I will be happy to make a donation.
I note that the maquette is being referred to the Hendon Royal Air Force
Museum
May I offer a few words of caution. I was a Lancaster pilot on operations at the latter part of WW11 and I was most concerned at the museum’s officials interpretation of the kit that Lancaster crews were wearing in the Bomber Command Memorial. I found at least 10 errors in the maquettes produced by the sculptor. When I took this up with the museum (Andy Cormick) I was told that “less than adequate”" discussion took place with the artist. I have recently returned from the sculptor’s studio after viewing the 3rd full size statue -this of the Flight Engineer in a Lancaster crew and I was bitterly disappointed
Robin
February 4, 2011 at 9:33 am (UTC 0) Link to this comment
Thank you for your encouragement, We are well aware of the pitfalls but every care has been taken in keeping the kit accurate to the Battle Of Britain period. As you will see we have had a very generous donation from the Polish Air Force Association, but a lot more funds are needed if we are able to provide a full sized statue, so we are most grateful for any donations. I think we can now say with confidence a WWII memorial will develop at the airport. Thanks
Robin
February 4, 2011 at 6:39 pm (UTC 0) Link to this comment
Today I had an important meeting with the local sculptor, things are now starting to happen, as the spring and summer gets underway work will begin on the life sized sculpture.
In the mean time our fund raising will gather momentum and the maquette which is eighteen inches tall will be cast in bronze in the coming weeks. it will then be made available for public viewing, it will not carry all of the detail that is to be included in the full sized sculpture. More details to follow. A paypal account should soon be in place on this website
Peter Norris
February 22, 2011 at 5:57 pm (UTC 0) Link to this comment
Very interested to learn about this much needed project. My cousin was Sgt Pilot P Norris who flew with 213 Squadron and was shot down and killed on the 13th August 1940 during his 4th flight of that day. A memorial to “The Few” here seems much needed to recognise the contribution of those who flew from RAF Exeter. I wish everyone involved all the very best with their endeavours.
Robin
February 23, 2011 at 11:03 am (UTC 0) Link to this comment
Thank you Peter, I am sure you noticed Sgt P Norris is named on our Role of Honour, I also hope you spotted the sculpture will carry the rank of a Sgt. Soon we should be in a position to announce details of another large financial contribution. This project will be fulfilled but we still have to raise additional funding at this time.
Paatricia Clow
September 5, 2011 at 1:20 pm (UTC 0) Link to this comment
I would be interested to know when the statue of the Polish airman is being unveiled please. My husbands parents , at Clyst Honiton,had Polish airman living with them duriig the war. my husband has a Polish second name after his Godfather. It wouldd be wonderful if he could be there.
Robin
September 7, 2011 at 11:33 am (UTC 0) Link to this comment
Patricia, I am not sure where the idea came from that the sculpture of the Battle of Britain pilot for the Exeter Airport project depicts a Polish airman? It is intended that the pilot represents all of the Battle of Britain pilots who flew from Exeter and they came from many allied nations including Poland.
The sculptures role is to draw public attention to the information that will be provided on the plinth covering the role played by those who served at RAF Exeter during WWII.
We still need to raise additional funds to complete this project, the sculpture is stage one, it will not be possible to unveil the statue until the plinth and ground work is complete. So keep watching this space donations of any amount will be most welcome