Statue of Engineer Who Designed Lancaster Bomber Landing Gear to Be Unveiled

A bronze statue honoring Sir George Dowty, who designed the hydraulic landing gear for the World War II Lancaster bomber, will be unveiled at the International Bomber Command Centre in Lincoln on May 27. The 8-foot sculpture depicts Dowty, an engineer who died in 1975. It stands alongside a wheel from a Lancaster bomber at the centre.

Dowty developed hydraulic landing gear that absorbed shock during heavy aircraft landings. The design contributed to safe operations for the Avro Lancaster and other military aircraft. He later applied the same principles to create a hydraulic pit prop, a roof support system for mines. The system adjusted to changing conditions and reduced the risk of roof collapses.

The statue is funded by the Dowty Memorial Committee, based in Gloucestershire, Dowty's birthplace. The International Bomber Command Centre serves as a site for recognition, remembrance, and reconciliation related to Bomber Command.