Carnaby Airfield Memorial

While ticking off some Fabulous North places in Bridlington and Flamborough we passed this beauty which was a stones throw from our hotel, so we had to have a meander down and take a look.

Opened in March 1944, RAF Carnaby was one of just three emergency landing grounds in the UK for bombers returning from missions over Europe. Over 1,500 aircraft made emergency landings there, some with shredded fuselages, failing hydraulics, or simply running on fumes. If you were flying home with half a wing and a prayer, Carnaby was where you hoped to end up.

Carnaby's Glowing Tribute To Wartime Grit

The artwork itself is titled 'Hell, Fire, FIDO and a Halifax.' It captures the dramatic landing of a Halifax bomber on 9 April 1945. The aircraft was damaged and fog-bound, guided in by the fiery glow of FIDO.

Beneath it, suspended by his parachute harness, was Sgt. Frank Smith. He had been blown out mid-flight, dangled for three hours, and was somehow still smiling when they landed. It was a moment of sheer survival, now rendered for posterity.

The memorial's centrepiece is a cantilevered glass panel, designed by local sculptor Stephen Carvill. It's coated with a special ceramic glaze that glows at night, casting light on the extraordinary story. So, the best time to visit is at dusk when the memorial truly comes to life.