International Bomber Command Centre

[sbartle]

Hello

This is my first post here so sincerest apologies if I'm doing anything incorrectly.

I work for a design company in the UK and I'm currently working alongside architects on the International Bomber Command Centre, which is a permanent memorial to those pilots and crew who lost their lives during WW2. The resulting memorial will in part feature approximately 70 metal panels with the names of those who lost their lives.

I would really appreciate any input or help with the following:

1). Finding a font, or typographic style that relates directly to the Lancaster Bomber. I appreciate that 'font' may be the wrong term as letters and numerals of this time would largely be hand painted.

2). The creation of a font that I can use - ie. install and use on a computer. This will need to be a stencil style font as it needs to be cut out from sheet metal. I appreciate that a stencil font that has a connection to the Lancaster Bomber probably doesn't exist as this isn't the style or technique that was used.

3). I have found a font on here but I'm not sure how to contact the poster directly. I sent a friend request, is that the only way to contact someone?

Kind Regards, Sam Bartle, Senior Creative, Distraction(.co.uk)

[Serval]

Welcome Sam,

You allways have to be carefull with the fonts used. Though there are standards, it can allways be different on particular aircraft.
In our download section you will find a couple of TTF fonts that look closely to the lettering used by the RAF.

[inkworm]

A lot of the RAF Lancs had a version of the standard RAF font for serials but applied in stencil form (something a lot of modellers and profilers miss), shouldn't be too hard to modify an existing font I'd have thought for the purpose.

Look forward to seeing it and my grandfather's name on the list once it's done.

[sbartle]

Thanks inkworm, I don't suppose you have any leads as to which font the RAF used or a picture of it being used in stencil form? The proposed memorial features all the names of those that flew from lincolnshire but will in future have all the names of those that fell. Just out of interest do you know any more details of your grandfathers time with Lancs? I may be able to find out some more information for you if you have his name and squadron as I'm working with people who are painstakingly compiling all the information.

Serval - thankyou, i have seen different fonts used but I have guidelines that Jeff Williams at Methringham Airfield (UK) kindly sent me which show how they 'should' have been used.

The font that is looking good for the project at the minute, and there isn't a direct link is one from this site called "Aereolix Stencil". The letters are similar in form to those used in the guidelines I have but in a stencil form as well as being nice and readable. The issue we have is that it's only caps and we need small 'c' 'a' etc for 'Mac...." "Mc..." etc. I can't get hold of the person that made the font.

Thankyou very much for your help.

[inkworm]

Regarding the font probably the best known photo is that of Guy Gibson


His Lanc was a MkII, LL701, KO-F of 115 Sqn, based at RAF Witchford, near Ely. Having done 7 trips (not taking into account the time on Stirlings with 623 Sqn) including the Battle of Berlin they took off on the 24th February 1944 at 18:50 for the ball bearing factory at Schwienfurt and failed to return. The whole crew was lost, there is no known crash site and it was one of two from 115 Sqn that failed to return that night.

The next issue of Aeroplane Monthly, due out at the end of October will have a feature on the MkII including LL701

Drop me a line via email if you want, inky at inkworm.co.uk

[sbartle]

Thanks a lot inkwork, very much appreciated. I'll have a look at Airplane end of this month. If you have a name as well of your relative I can ask Dave Gilbert who has been compiling the lists if he has links to any further information. It's very sad reading through some of the information concerning this project.