A Unic mini spider crane helped make a World War II veteran’s dream become a reality recently as it travelled to Beachy Head in Eastbourne to install a stone monument commemorating the 55,573 men who lost their lives serving as part of Bomber Command.
The Unic URW-547 mini spider crane was watched by a crowd of onlookers as GGR Group operators carefully lifted the two 2780kg granite pieces into perfect position on top of each other at the cliff edge, 450 feet above the Channel.
Our mini crane and the memorial stones were able to reach this restricted access area of coastline with a little help from an RAF Chinook helicopter. The 5010kg Unic URW-547 was slung underneath the Chinook in a cargo net and lifted from the main road to the cliffside to complete the final precise positioning of the stone sections.
The 4 tonne capacity compact crane was ideal for working on the soft, uneven grassy terrain thanks to its positionable outriggers. It was driven across timbers to reach the final lifting location so not to damage any of ground at this coastal beauty spot.
The project was organised by Joe Williams, an ex-Lancaster Bomber rear gunner who has been campaigning and fundraising for years to have a memorial placed at Beachy Head, which is the last sight of England which many of the Bomber Command crews will have had. To find out more about Joe’s tribute visit the website.
