On Freedom's Wings – Bomber County Gateway, Norton Disney

Standing beside the A46 at Norton Disney, on the Lincolnshire–Nottinghamshire border between Newark and Lincoln, On Freedom's Wings is one of Britain's largest aviation sculptures and a striking gateway to Lincolnshire, the county forever associated with RAF Bomber Command during the Second World War. Positioned on rising ground close to the former RAF Swinderby, the sculpture appears to bank gently across the Lincolnshire sky, symbolising a Lancaster returning to its home airfield after an operation.

Created by the Bomber County Gateway Trust, the full-size sculpture measures approximately 26 metres (85 feet) in length with a wingspan of 31 metres (102 feet). Mounted on a slender steel support structure, it rises higher than the Angel of the North, allowing the aircraft to be viewed against the skyline by the many thousands of motorists who travel along the A46 each day. Its open, layered construction gives the impression of movement while allowing light and landscape to pass through the aircraft, combining engineering, public art and remembrance in a single landmark.

Although the sculpture honours all who served with RAF Bomber Command, it specifically depicts Avro Lancaster R5689 'VN-N' of No. 50 Squadron, based at nearby RAF Swinderby. Returning from a mine-laying operation over the Baltic Sea on 19 September 1942, both port engines failed as the aircraft approached home. The Lancaster crashed in nearby Thurlby Wood, only a few miles from this site. Four members of the seven-man crew lost their lives, while three survived. By commemorating this particular aircraft, the sculpture creates a direct and deeply personal connection with the surrounding landscape and Lincolnshire's wartime history.

Known throughout the war as 'Bomber County', Lincolnshire was home to an unrivalled concentration of RAF bomber stations from which thousands of aircrew flew operations over occupied Europe. For many, these airfields became the starting point of journeys from which they would never return. On Freedom's Wings stands as a lasting tribute to their courage, sacrifice and service, while celebrating the county's enduring place at the heart of Britain's aviation heritage.

Photographed by Paul Fenwick for the Grimsby & Cleethorpes Museum. Taken from the A46 between Newark and Lincoln at Norton Disney, Lincolnshire, August 2026.