Full Breakdown
Sir George Dowty Honored with Statue at Lincoln’s International Bomber Command Centre
5/18/2026, 11:38:36 AM
Unveiling of the Bronze Sculpture
An eight-foot (2.4 m) bronze statue of Sir George Dowty will be formally unveiled on Wednesday 27 May at the International Bomber Command Centre (IBCC) in Lincoln, Lincolnshire. The sculpture, depicting the pioneering engineer, was financed by the Dowty Memorial Committee, a group based in Gloucestershire—Dowty’s birthplace. The IBCC, which functions as a site for recognition, remembrance and reconciliation for Bomber Command, will host the ceremony.
Sir George Dowty’s Engineering Legacy
Sir George Dowty (d. 1975) designed the hydraulic landing-gear system used on the World War Two Lancaster bomber, a component described as essential to the aircraft’s operational success. His hydraulic landing gear was also employed on other military aircraft of the era. He also applied the same hydraulic principles to develop a pit-prop system for underground mines. The hydraulic pit prop could be adjusted to changing conditions and was reported to have virtually eliminated roof-collapse hazards, thereby raising safety standards in the mining industry.
Key Stakeholders
The unveiling involves several principal parties: Sir George Dowty, whose engineering achievements are commemorated; Sir Mike Graydon, chair of the IBCC trustees; the Dowty Memorial Committee, which provided funding; and the IBCC trustees and staff who manage the centre’s public programmes. The committee’s Gloucestershire base underscores the connection to Dowty’s origins and its role in supporting the commemorative project.
Official Statements & Responses
In remarks preceding the ceremony, Sir Mike Graydon praised Dowty’s dual contributions to aviation and mining. He characterized Dowty as a distinguished engineer whose work on the Lancaster undercarriage was designed and manufactured without fault, contributing to safe landings for crews. Graydon further noted that the undercarriage production adhered to exacting standards, eliminating design flaws. He added that situating the statue at the IBCC provides an appropriate setting for recognizing an individual whose innovations supported both wartime operations and civilian industry.
Impact and Significance
The statue provides a tangible acknowledgment of the technical expertise that underpinned the effectiveness of Bomber Command’s aircraft and the safety of mining operations. By foregrounding Dowty’s role, the IBCC expands public awareness of the engineering foundations of wartime aviation and of safety improvements in the mining industry. The installation aligns with the IBCC’s broader mission to honour technical contributions alongside operational histories. The monument also enriches the centre’s educational remit, linking historical remembrance with the celebration of scientific achievement.
Verbatim Quotes
- “George Dowty was a brilliant engineer and an unsung hero in the Lancaster bomber tale.” — Sir Mike Graydon, Chair, IBCC Trustees
- ‘The undercarriages of the Lancaster bomber were "faultlessly designed and manufactured" and "instrumental to safe landings for our crews at the completion of their flights".’ — Sir Mike Graydon, Chair, IBCC Trustees
