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Son 'overwhelmed' as WW2 mum's statue unveiled

Holly Phillips & Sarah-May Buccieri
BBC News
Sarah-May Buccieri/ BBC David Hourigan and his sister, Elizabeth, standing in front of a metal silhouette statue of a female soldier wearing a blue sash that reads "Women in War." Elizabeth stands on the left wearing a black blouse with a patterned collar, with a pearl necklace and pearl earrings. She has long blonde hair. David is standing on the right wearing a navy suit with a blue shirt and a dark and light blue striped tie. He is smiling at the camera and has short white hair. The sky is blue with light clouds. Sarah-May Buccieri/ BBC
David Hourigan and his sister Elizabeth with the statue of their mother Margaret

The son of a woman who served in World War Two was "overwhelmed" when a statue of her was unveiled as military planes flew overhead.

David Hourigan watched as his mother Margaret's statue was uncovered at the International Bomber Command Centre (IBCC) in Lincoln on Friday.

The statue of Margaret is one of 10 8ft-tall (2.4m) silhouettes of women who had served during WW2 which have gone on display.

Typhoon and Atlas aircraft, crewed only by women, took part in a flypast to mark the opening of the exhibition at the museum.

Mr Hourigan, who flew from Australia for the event, said his mother died a year ago at the age of 101.

When he saw the statue of her, he said: "It was like meeting the real person again. I found that very hard because it was so much like her and, because she's standing on English soil, I thought she has come home."

Sarah-May Buccieri/ BBC Four steel silhouette statues of women in military uniforms standing outdoors. In front of them are plaques displaying details about their contributions. The sky is blue with light clouds. Sarah-May Buccieri/ BBC
The ten steel statues of WW2 women were unveiled on Friday

The ten steel sculptures, made by Standing with Giants, pay tribute to wartime women, such as pioneering physicist Joan Curran and WW2 pilot Lettice Curtis.

The first flypast to mark their unveiling was from 57 squadron at RAF Cranwell.

They were followed by an Atlas 400M from RAF Brize Norton and one Typhoon from XI (Fighter) Squadron from RAF Coningsby.

Nicky van der Drift, chief executive of the IBCC, said: "We are proud to honour the women who played such a vital role in protecting the freedoms we enjoy today."

The new exhibition, marking International Women's Month, will be a permanent installation at the IBCC's memorial spire.

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