The creation

The sculpture of the surmounting eagle is by William Reid Dick and the monument by Sir Reginald Blomfield. The eagle, traditional mascot of the Royal Air Force, looks over the river resplendent with its gilded surface catching the light. It was unveiled as the memorial for the Royal Air Force and its predecessor services, in 1923. This was initially in remembrance to all RAF dead of the First World War, but with the subsequent tragedy of a second world conflict, it now serves the same for all wars in which RAF personnel have died. The Ministry of Defence Main Building (the former Air Ministry) is the government building perhaps unsurprisingly located just behind the memorial.