Down Two Earth Under The Heavens

It may surprise you to find a life size sculpture depicting one of Germany's most feared weapons is sited at the Battle of Britain Memorial.

The sculpture by Bavarian artist Hex Frss, is made from stainless steel with a scratched surface texture over its entirety, giving a rough, weathered look when lit by the Memorial's floodlights.
It represents a Junkers JU87, or Stuka, a highly effective dive-bomber that struck fear into psyche of anyone that heard its terrifying screech as it plummeted towards it's target.

The Trustees of the Memorial approached the Allied survivors of the Battle, known as "the Few", to seek their opinion about accepting the piece. Many had built close personal relationships with their German counterparts since the war, and in the spirit of reconciliation and wider acknowledgment of all that took part in the Battle of Britain, the sculpture was installed in 2020, 80 years after the conflict.

Due to the floodlights at the memorial site and the amount of local light pollution this image is a composite. The sky shots were taken on the same night only a few miles away on Rye beach.