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"Female fly-past" as monument to the Women of World War II is unveiled in Whitehall by Her Majesty the Queen

Published Thursday 7th July 2005

(L-R) Flt Lt Sue Freeman and Flt Lt Kat Ferriss prepare for the flypast to commemorate the unveiling of the Women in World War II memorial [RAF]
(L-R) Flt Lt Sue Freeman and Flt Lt Kat Ferriss prepare for the flypast to commemorate the unveiling of the Women in World War II memorial [RAF] Rt Hon Baroness Boothroyd looks on as the Women in World War II Memorial arrives in Whitehall, London, 28 June 2005 [Phot: Ian Nelson]
Rt Hon Baroness Boothroyd looks on as the Women in World War II Memorial arrives in Whitehall, London, 28 June 2005 [Phot: Ian Nelson]

At 3.20pm on Saturday 9th July two Tornado F3 fighter aircraft, piloted and navigated by women, will fly over Whitehall heading from South to North, from Parliament Square to Trafalgar Square as part of the tribute to the seven million, one hundred thousand women who contributed to victory in World War Two.

The "female fly-past" will happen at the conclusion of the unveiling ceremony, which will be performed by Her Majesty The Queen, of the Memorial to the Women of World War II which is sited near to the Cenotaph.

Taking off from RAF Leeming in Yorkshire, flying at 1500 feet and at a speed of 345 mph, the lead aircraft will be piloted by Flight Lieutenant Sue Freeman of 56(R) Sqn RAF Leuchars, and navigated by Flight Lieutenant Kat Ferriss of 111Sqn RAF Leuchars.  The second aircraft will be piloted by Flight Lieutenant Helen White and navigated by Flight Lieutenant Liz Dawson, both of whom are from 11 Sqn RAF Leeming.

Flt Lt Freeman said:

"Of course I feel very proud to be involved in this, and the fact that I can take part is fantastic.  Being a female in the military this is something that is very close to my heart.  There are very few female fast jet aircrew, so when I was asked to do this I said yes straight away."

In the lead up to the fly past Flt Lt Freeman said she expected to be nervous but didn’t expect to feel too different to any other flying mission when in the air.

"It's a very busy piece of air space, and I'll be concentrating very hard trying not to bump into anything.  I expect the real significance of the event will dawn on me after I touch down at Brize Norton."

The memorial, which is a bronze sculpture 22 ½ feet high, 14 feet wide and four and a half feet deep, is recognition of the vital role that women played in the war.  It celebrates all those who willingly gave up six years of their lives in service to their country – the women who built bridges and ships; made munitions and aircraft; worked 18 hours a day on the land; worked as code breakers and agents behind enemy lines and women who risked their lives as air raid wardens and fire watchers.

John Mills the sculptor of the memorial said:

"My mother worked in munitions.  When I was a child, I took it for granted that my life was run by women in the war.  It's a tremendous privilege to make a sculpture like this and have it in the best spot."

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