Kentish Express Ashford & District
Life-size sculpture of German bomber lands at museum
Model of wartime plane marks ‘reconciliation’
A life-size sculpture of a German dive bomber has landed at the Battle of Britain Memorial.
Made of stainless steel, it represents a Junkers Ju 87 or Stuka, used by the Luftwaffe during the Second World War.
The artwork, by Bavarian artist Hex FRSS, is called Down. Two.Earth and was previously on display at Burghley House Sculpture Garden, in Lincolnshire, before moving to the Capel Le Ferne museum last Friday.
It will now sit alongside the replica Mk 1 Spitfire and Hurricane aircraft at the Memorial for the summer and will reflect a ‘spirit of reconciliation’.
The Battle of Britain Memorial Trust, which runs the memorial dedicated to the aircrew who flew in the Battle of Britain, say reconciliation is not a new concept.
Secretary of the Trust, Group Captain Patrick Tootal, said: “When the Memorial was unveiled by Her Late Majesty Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother in 1993, we used a dramatic photograph of an RAF Tornado and a German Tornado from the Tri-National Tornado Training Establishment at Cottesmore flying over the site in formation to promote the opening. As well as reconciliation, the image reflected the close personal relationships that had built up since the war between some of the Few and their German counterparts, not least Wing Commander Geoffrey Page, who was the inspiration behind the Memorial and who became close friends with Luftwaffe ace General Adolf Galland.
“In later years the Trust felt that the image might be a little insensitive to some of the surviving Few, but those who are still with us feel that the time is now right once again to broaden the Memorial’s appeal.
“In early 2019, on the eve of the 80th anniversary of the Battle of Britain, Trustees re-examined the charity’s role and decided it should also address and record the role of the Luftwaffe in the Battle in order to provide a comprehensive and authoritative overview of the events of 1940.”
That decision coincided with an approach from artist Hex asking if the Trust would be interested in displaying his piece, which has a wingspan of 14m wider than either the Spitfire or Hurricane.
Mr Hex has a particular interest in the Battle as his father and the German artist Joseph Beuys both served in the Luftwaffe, flying in the same Stuka squadron.
‘Trustees decided the charity should also address and record the role of the Luftwaffe in the Battle’
Mr Tootal, whose father Flt Lt Jack Tootal RAFVR was lost while flying Halifax bombers with Bomber Command, added: “As we approach the end of an era with the passing of the Second World War veterans we must look to the future and remember the human cost of war to all nations in a spirit of reconciliation.”