April 1, 2014 12.20 pm This story is over 124 months old

Lincoln ‘nose art’ display celebrates Lincolnshire RAF

Nose Art: A children’s aviation art display has launched in Lincoln in memory of soldiers who lost their lives in WW2.

A children’s aviation ‘nose art’ display in Lincoln is celebrating the 96th birthday of the Royal Air Force and raising funds for the Lincolnshire Bomber Command Memorial Appeal.

From April 1, visitors to the Priory Centre in Lincoln will be able to enjoy a collection of aircraft art designs dubbed Nose Art.

Entry to the exhibition is free and visitors are welcome to contribute to the appeal by making a donation in memory of the 25,611 Bomber Command aircrew who lost their lives in WW2.

The trend became iconic during the Second World War and started after Italian fleets painted the side of their aircraft cockpits with satirical cartoons.

After challenging schools and individuals county-wide in 2010 to a design a modern day nose art design, Lincolnshire Aviation Heritage received around 200 entries.

Entries were submitted from aspiring artists aged between 6 and 22, and one entry came all the way from America.

The top 22 designs were chosen by an independent panel to be transferred onto custom aluminium and have since been travelling the length of Britain.

The Lincoln Exhibition is the first of its kind and organisers were keen to combine the celebration of the RAF’s 96th birthday with an opportunity to raise funds for the Bomber Command Memorial.

Architects submitted a preliminary planning application for the memorial park at the beginning of the year and are aiming to begin a consultation in June 2014.

Tony Worth, Chairman of the Bomber Command Trustees and Lord-Lieutenant of Lincolnshire said: “The Lincolnshire Bomber Command Trust are absolutely delighted to be invited to be part of the Nose Art Exhibition.

“Many of these images became icons in their own right and to this day provide not only an easy identification of the aircraft but a sense of ownership and pride in the aircraft sporting them.”

Dave Harrigan of Aviation Lincolnshire Heritage said: “The designs have been to festivals and exhibitions across the country now and they have been getting a fantastic reaction.

“The winning entry from Heidi Waitman has gone on to art college now and she managed to tell a story with her piece and we thought the contemporary take was fantastic.”