Yesterday a helicopter landed at the Royal Air Force Museum to deliver a wreath which is to form the centre piece of a new national war memorial.

The Chinook helicopter brought the bronze wreath which will lie at the head of the Bomber Command memorial, currently under construction in Green Park, central London.

The memorial will honour the 55,573 men of Bomber Command who lost their lives in the Second World War.

It is now under construction and is due to be completed in time for a dedication and unveiling on Thursday, June 28.

The Bomber Command Association, based at the RAF Museum, aims to raise more than £7.5 million to fund and maintain the memorial.

The wreath will be displayed in the museum’s Bomber Hall from April 2 until it is installed at the Memorial in central London this summer.

The bronze wreath was designed by Bomber Command veteran and artist Dr Colin Dudley, who lives in Adelaide, Australia.

Dr Dudley, 88, was among an estimated 10,000 Australians who served with Bomber Command during the war.

Mr Dudley flew 39 sorties as a navigator flying Halifax bombers with 578 Squadron. After D-Day in June 1944, he took part in one operation where a large store of V1 flying bombs was destroyed.

He said: “I just hope that the arms of the wreath will be seen by those on earth, and those above, as reaching out in an embrace of eternal devotion.

“I give thanks for the quite remarkable help and guidance that has been with me all the way, including that of my wife and daughter, without whom nothing could have happened.”