Earlier today (26th June 2021) Greg Smith MP was very proud and humbled to be asked to participate in an extremely special and moving ceremony to officially unveil a memorial to commemorate No. 26 Operational Training Unit (26 OTU) who operated from RAF Wing.
Greg said: "It was particularly special for this ceremony to take place on Armed Forces Day and the anniversary of Wellington No.DV721, which failed to return from Bremen in Germany in the early morning of 26th June 1942- having left RAF Wing to be part of the Air Chief Marshall Sir Arthur Harris inspired ‘Thousand Bomber Raids’.
"Over 2,500 men and women from across the Commonwealth worked and lived on the site. Tragically, around two hundred men and women lost their lives while training with 26 OTU and I am told at its height, one life was lost for every ten hours flown.
"As the war ended, nearly 33,000 allied ex prisoners of war from 21 nations were repatriated to RAF Wing in 1945, as part of Operation Exodus.
"I want to add my thanks to every one who has made this memorial possible. Great things like this do not happen by accident. They only happen by dedicated people putting ideas into action. Likewise the many donors who kindly provided the funds and the land for the memorial to become a reality. In particular Nick Ellins and David and Alex King - but so many more as well who know who they are. May their work stand proud for decades and centuries to come, as a lasting tribute to those who served, and those who died, at RAF Wing.
"It was a particular pleasure to formally unveil the memorial with Lynn Taylor-Overend. Lynn’s now deceased father (Eric) was the airfield's Physical Training Instructor during the Second World War and he led some of the station parades, including the Battle of Britain victory parade.
"It is wonderful that the memorial will have a lasting legacy. The Overstone Combined School is the lead schools partner for the memorial. They have committed to creating a permanent display within their building, encouraging the children to learn more about the people and aircraft that occupied the airfield and will visit the site near to each Remembrance Day. The Herts & Bucks Wing of the Royal Air Force Air Cadets is the lead military partner for the memorial. The cadets will complete projects about RAF Wing and 26 OTU, visit the airfield each Remembrance Day season and they have a central project to visit and record the headstones of aircrew and personnel killed nearby. RAF Halton Church includes a number of these.
"I look forward to reading 'Wings over Wing' by local author Michael Warth to better understand the history of RAF Wing. I encourage everyone to visit the memorial when they can.
"We must never forget the sacrifice that so many made to protect our freedom. We are forever in their debt and our thanks alone can never be enough."
