She created a stele to remember the tragic fate of six English airmen who crashed in the Tarn in 1945.

A stele to remember the tragic fate of six English crew members of a Royal Air Force Lancaster bomber who accidentally disappeared in the town of Lamontélarié on August 7, 1945. No survivors. It was during a transport mission from Wickenby in England to Pomigliano in Italy. The plane crashed for reasons that remain unknown to this day.

“It was becoming urgent”

“It was Mélanie Caron, the facilitator in charge of the youth project, who thought of me for the stele. We had just met during another youth project in July. It was a screen printer friend from Murat sur Vèbre who put us in touch. The team from the Monts de Lacaune community of communes was looking for a sculptor for the stele, and it was becoming urgent.”

The story of these aviators had been forgotten

The story of these aviators had been forgotten and this stele erected on the edge of the D52, above Combalerte, at more than 1,000 m, close to the scene of the accident, keeps their memory alive.
“I worked with iron but also with art foundry, and for founders, in general, one day or another, the question of the monument arises. I have worked with other founders who have been led to create monuments of this type, but never personally. This opportunity was therefore for me, in a way, a “natural step” in my life as a sculptor, while remaining a real challenge. The question of commemoration is not simple: respecting the specifications, the memory of the event and paying tribute to the deceased is a very sensitive issue.”

The artist’s talent and sensitivity have resulted in a touching and respectful creation.
“And in the specifications, precisely, I was asked to include in the sculpture a piece of the plane that was found by Thierry Martinez, the historian who brought these young men and this tragic event back into the spotlight.”

A ceremony in the presence of descendants planned for next year

Thierry Martinez began researching the crash of the British bomber in 2019. He contacted the descendants of the six young airmen who hope to attend the memorial ceremony next year.

“My creation was therefore conditioned by this piece. I wanted something harmonious, simple and elegant. The laser cutting of the Corten steel sheet (steel whose oxidation transforms into protection, therefore very suitable for the outdoors, for exposure to bad weather) allows it to be as aerial as possible (since we are talking about an airplane) and to let the landscape be seen.”
This creation helps to fight against oblivion, to remember these young men and the need to preserve peace.
Christelle is exhibiting from Saturday October 2 to Saturday November 2 at the Baffignac barn (Fontrieu).

Contact: 06 80 31 91 37
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