Bomber Command campaigners defend memorial

Campaigners for a memorial to the estimated 55,000 airmen of Bomber Command who died during the Second World War today rejected a call from the Mayor of Dresden that the scheme be dropped.

Helma Orosz, in London on Monday for an exhibition commemorating civilians killed in bombing raids in London, Dresden and Coventry, said she opposed the monument — planned for next year near Hyde Park Corner.

"The emotions of the people in Dresden are running high. It is against our culture of remembrance," she said.

But Jim Dooley, chairman of the Bomber Command Association, said: "The sacrifice of those young men earned the right for freedom in Europe, and the freedom of expression. The memorial has nothing to do with commemorating bombing cities or the glorification of those events."

Bee Gee Robin Gibb, who has been a supporter of the memorial for many years, said: "It's not our aim to commemorate the bombing of any city including Dresden. Our aim is to commemorate the loss of 55,573 young volunteer airmen who gave their lives."

The RAF's raids on Dresden in February 1945 killed 25,000 civilians over two days. Yesterday, the Dresdner Neueste Nachrichten newspaper called the attacks war crimes and suggested they "lie on the conscience of the English".

A further £1.9 million is needed for the memorial.