Villagers will look to the skies as they remember those who gave their lives whilst serving at an airfield on the border of Leicestershire and Nottinghamshire. The day will be a poignant one for those in Langar as they hold a commemoration service at the 207 Squadron Memorial at Langar Airfield, on the road between the villages of Langar and Harby.
Planned for Saturday, May 13, at 2pm, a flypast will follow (at 2.33pm) of the lendendary RAF Lancaster Bomber - one of only two in the world still flying. The event is to remember Lancaster C for Charlie, W4938, lost with all crew on the May 23, 1943, after taking off from Langar Airfield.
The bomb aimer, Thomas Skelton, at 19, was newly married to the late Dorothy Ware, and she wanted a memorial erected to 207, which happened in 1994, and was recently refurbished by Belvoir Rail Company of Cotgrave, and a new bench seat provided by Rushcliffe Borough Council.
Read more: Nottinghamshire village hall replaced with new building costing more than £500,000
Councillor John Crosby, of Langar cum Barnstone Parish Council, said: "Without Dorothy or the generosity of Roland Gale, owner of the airfield, the memorial may never have been dedicated. So this aircraft and its crew has a most important part to play and in its own way remembering 207 Squadron at Langar.
"How else can they be remembered than with a flypast and circuits of the BBMF (Battle of Britain Memorial Flight) Lancaster, weather permitting". He has help from ex waff Brenda Kelly who managed to trace a least three families and two will be attending.
"So my belief is that this crew deserves to be remembered and in doing say also the memory of Dorothy Ware, and all those that were instrumental in forming and serving on the memorial committee," added Councillor Crosby.
* It comes as the first dates that members of the public can see the Red Arrows, based at RAF Waddington in Lincolnshire, in action in 2023 have been confirmed. The world-renowned aerobatics team will be taking to the skies for more official air shows over the course of the year.
Training began on January 9, in the vicinity of RAF Syerston, near Newark, until April 7. Some public appearances were are expected to start in May, however the first dates for 2023 have now been confirmed.
On Friday, June 2, and Saturday, June 3, the jets will be taking part in a display at the Midlands Air Festival at Ragley Hall in Warwickshire. The Arrows will then perform a flypast over the event on the Sunday.
READ NEXT:
The latest defendants from Nottinghamshire who have appeared before the courts
Three people in court over alleged murder of Davices Anderson in Nottingham
Nottingham man Jamie Barrow admits the triple killing of a mum and her 2 children
Nottingham grandad was returning from wake when he stabbed stranger
Prisoner squirted noxious substance out of cell in Nottinghamshire prison
