International Bomber Command Centre

International Bomber Command Centre International Memorial & Interpretation Centre telling the collective story of Bomber Command. Based in Lincoln but covering the whole Bomber Command story.

Incorporates a memorial carrying the names of those who perished, the Chadwick Centre housing exhibition, research and education facilities and peace gardens.

Today, we remember 12,500 airmen and women who lost their lives serving with the RAF’s often-overlooked ‘Cinderella Serv...
01/09/2026

Today, we remember 12,500 airmen and women who lost their lives serving with the RAF’s often-overlooked ‘Cinderella Service’.

Their names have been added to our Losses Database, creating the first truly comprehensive digital record of those who died serving with Coastal Command, keeping the sea lanes of our island safe.

What makes this project even more poignant is that more than half of those who died have no known grave.

Until now, the names of those who made the ultimate sacrifice serving with Coastal Command could only be viewed within a Book of Remembrance at Westminster Abbey. From today, they can be searched, explored and remembered by families, researchers and future generations at any time, from anywhere in the world.

IBCC’s Losses Archivist Dave Gilbert, who has contributed more than 1,000 voluntary hours creating the database, has also identified more than 2,000 previously unrecorded losses, including ages, home towns and next of kin.

As Dave said: “Cinderella should go to the ball, and today, she does.”

https://losses.internationalbcc.co.uk

As Lincoln prepares to welcome the Tour of Britain riders, we’ve been looking through our archive and found some wonderf...
27/08/2026

As Lincoln prepares to welcome the Tour of Britain riders, we’ve been looking through our archive and found some wonderful 1940s cycling photographs. They capture the spirit of cycling; determination, freedom, and a love of the open road.

The International Bomber Command Centre sits just a short ride from the city. Whether you’re here for the race or simply enjoying a day out on your bike, we’d love to welcome you. Take in the views, explore the memorial and exhibitions, and connect today’s cycling community with the stories we preserve.

A gentle climb, a remarkable place, and a chance to pause with history.

Tour of Britain (Lincoln) 2nd - 3rd September

Check out what else is happening:
https://internationalbcc.co.uk/visit/events/

With just one week to go until the IBCC adds 12,500 Coastal Command names to our losses database, we wanted to share the...
25/08/2026

With just one week to go until the IBCC adds 12,500 Coastal Command names to our losses database, we wanted to share these remarkable photographs.

Coastal Command played a vital role in protecting our shores, safeguarding supply routes, and supporting countless operations that often went unseen and unsung. Behind every name is a story — of service, sacrifice, and quiet courage.

As we prepare to honour thousands more individuals, we invite you to take a moment with these images.

Is there anyone you recognise? A relative, a friend, or perhaps someone you’ve come across in your own research.

Every connection helps keep their legacy alive.

https://losses.internationalbcc.co.uk/

20/08/2026

Did you know? 👀

19/08/2026

Flt Sgt Ronald Charles Abbs RAFVR

Flt Sgt Ronald Charles Abbs was serving as a second pilot with 12 Squadron when he was tragically killed during a training sortie on 26 February 1945, just weeks before the end of the war in Europe. His Lancaster, PB243 PH‑D, crashed near Stainton‑le‑Vale, Lincolnshire, after turning at low altitude; an inquiry later suggested the autopilot may have been inadvertently engaged.

Ronald, aged 25, was the son of Alfred and Helen Abbs of West Runton, Norfolk, and the husband of Alice Abbs of Ipswich. He is buried at Holy Trinity Churchyard, West Runton, and commemorated on Panel 001 at the IBCC Memorial.

All six crew members lost their lives:
PO Keith Lindley (pilot),
Sgt Clifford Bennett Douglas (navigator),
Flt Sgt Eric John Dalton Stone (bomb‑aimer),
Sgt Samuel Arthur Bragg (wireless operator),
Sgt Eric George Andrews (air gunner).

Their sacrifice is remembered.

What happened after the dam broke? This October, a new exhibition at the International Bomber Command Centre will look b...
13/08/2026

What happened after the dam broke?

This October, a new exhibition at the International Bomber Command Centre will look beyond the Dambusters raid to the people and places left in its wake.

For the first time, films and hundreds of photographs that have never been released to the public will be brought together in one exhibition. From around the Möhne Dam in the aftermath of the raid and during the 19-week reconstruction that followed, these extraordinary images come from town archives and private collections across the Möhne region.

They tell a story that goes far beyond the raid itself — of destruction, loss, and the people who lived through it. They also reveal the struggles of the forced labourers who were sacrificed to rebuild the dam, and why it was not attacked again.

At the IBCC, remembering the past is not simply about remembering what happened. It is about understanding the human consequences of conflict, listening to different experiences, and finding opportunities for reconciliation.

After Me, the Flood brings together these previously unseen stories to encourage reflection, understanding and a deeper conversation about the shared history between communities once divided by war.

https://internationalbcc.co.uk/

📅 5 October 2026 – 28 February 2027
📍 International Bomber Command Centre, Lincoln

08/08/2026

Step back into the 1940s ✨

Take a look at some of the highlights from our 1940s Weekend at the International Bomber Command Centre.
From vintage cars and fashion to live displays and plenty of 1940s atmosphere, there’s still time to join us today and tomorrow.

📍 International Bomber Command Centre
🎟️ 8-9 August 2026

Desmond O’Connell was serving as an Observer with 502 Squadron when his Armstrong Whitworth Whitley crashed on take‑off ...
05/08/2026

Desmond O’Connell was serving as an Observer with 502 Squadron when his Armstrong Whitworth Whitley crashed on take‑off during a mission to locate the Bismarck in April 1941. Thrown clear of the aircraft but drenched in petrol, he was engulfed in flames when it exploded. He survived severe burns and began a long and complex recovery.

His treatment took him from Roe Valley Cottage Hospital to RAF Halton, where Sir Archibald McIndoe accepted him into his pioneering burns unit at the Queen Victoria Hospital, East Grinstead. Over two years and 29 operations, O’Connell became one of the founding members of the Guinea Pig Club — a remarkable community of airmen who endured life‑changing injuries with extraordinary courage.

After his recovery, he returned to service as an Air Traffic Controller and left the RAF in 1946.

Explore more stories like Desmond’s on the IBCC Digital Archive Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/ibcc_digital_archive

Lots to see and do across the whole weekend!
05/08/2026

Lots to see and do across the whole weekend!

Address

Canwick Avenue
Lincoln
LN42HQ

Opening Hours

Tuesday 9:30am - 4pm
Wednesday 9:30am - 4pm
Thursday 9:30am - 4pm
Friday 9:30am - 4pm
Saturday 9:30am - 4pm
Sunday 9:30am - 4pm

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