Memorial to 12 Squadron and 626 Squadron of RAF Wickenby

The memorial is located beside the gated entrance to Wickenby Airfield. It marks the southern end of the memorial walk, a line of trees between the memorial and the old Watch Office (each tree commemorates a member of RAF Wickenby personnel).

The memorial consists of a tapering Derbyshire gritstone stele, standing on a broad three-stepped base. The tread of each step overhangs slightly, for the placement of wreaths and floral tributes. To either side of the pylon is a bronze of the two squadron badges, whilst the front face of the memorial carries the bronze figure of Icarus falling from the sky. The figure, which was cast using the lost wax process, is reminiscent of both the framework of Icarus’s wings made by his father Daedalus, and the airframe of the aircraft flown from the airfield. The boy plummets - screaming - as the body/fuselage starts to disintegrate and the left hand attempts to protect the head.

Below the figure the dedicatory inscription reads ROYAL AIR FORCE/ WICKENBY/ NO 1 GROUP BOMBER COMMAND/ 1942 – 1945/ IN MEMORY OF/ ONE THOUSAND AND EIGHTY MEN/ OF 12 & 626 SQUADRONS/ WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES ON/ OPERATIONS FROM THIS AIRFIELD/ IN THE OFFENSIVE AGAINST GERMANY/ AND THE LIBERATION/ OF OCCUPIED EUROPE/ PER ARDUA AD ASTRA.

This list entry was subject to a Minor Amendment on 24 November 2025 to amend details in the description