Bronze angel sculpture to remember fallen airmen

Watercolour artist's impressions have revealed the vision for a bronze sculpture memorial to Manx aviators who left the island's airfields "never to be seen again".

If approved, the Angel of Ronaldsway statue would be installed in the grounds of the Manx Aviation and Military Museum in Ballasalla.

Museum director Ivor Ramsden said the 8ft (2.4m) artwork would pay tribute to the men who gave their lives during World War Two.

The attraction, which features collections of wartime memorabilia and history, recorded its best ever year for visitors in 2024 to 2025.

Plans for the sculpture, which include watercolour impressions by artist Gary Bennett, have been submitted and are currently under consideration by the planning department within the Department of Environment, Food and Agriculture.

Shaped like an angel with wings, with one arm held aloft, a central section in the form of a man would be hollowed out.

Mr Ramsden said: "The humanoid-shaped space really does symbolise the missing men.

"So many took off from airfields on the Isle of Man and came down in the Irish Sea and no trace was ever found them.

"We hope the sculpture will make people think about these lost souls."

The free-to-enter museum also confirmed it posted a record year for visitors, with 8,089 people attending over the 2024/25 financial year.

It said numbers had risen steadily since the attraction opened in 2000, with an 8% growth on the previous year, up from 7,500 guests.

Mr Ramsden said the team were "delighted with the growth", which had also led to "an increasing number of appreciative comments".

"We tell the stories of ordinary Manx people," he said.

"Fishermen, farm workers, horse tram conductors. Medals, belongings, and photos bring their stories to life."

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