IRIS Lancaster PA447
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Was Doylestown, PA, now Arnhem, NL
Age: 73
Posts: 130
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
IRIS Lancaster PA447
Fellow Ppruners,
Some time ago I contributed to a thread about something that I cannot remember. In that thread I promised to put up a picture of IRIS Lancaster PA447 that I knew I had somewhere. Well it has eventually surfaced so I thought I better fulfill that promise and publish it.
My father was stationed at RAF Watton in Norfolk in the late 40s and he had the responsibility of looking after PA447 from an engineering/maintenance perspective. This was deemed something of an honour and 447 was extremely well looked after. For instance all the other Lancasters on the station were left out in all weathers, only moving inside for maintenance, but 447 was always put away in the warm every night.
The attached picture is an official one taken at RAF Watton with 447 on the hardstanding outside No 4 hangar by a certain Mr Smith (his first name and rank have been lost unfortunately). Mr Smith was an official RAF photographer who lived next door to us in the AMQ at RAF Watton. In fact his bicycle can be seen propped up at the rear of the aircraft.
My sister, who is a little older than me would very often sit in the cockpit under strict instructions not to touch anything. One Sunday morning when 447 was due for an engine test, my father hitched up the tug to the aircraft and towed it out of the hangar on his own (a serious offence if any damage had been done). My sister was then allowed to start one of the engines....How I would love the opportunity to do that today.
I hope you can now consider my promise fulfilled.
QP
Some time ago I contributed to a thread about something that I cannot remember. In that thread I promised to put up a picture of IRIS Lancaster PA447 that I knew I had somewhere. Well it has eventually surfaced so I thought I better fulfill that promise and publish it.
My father was stationed at RAF Watton in Norfolk in the late 40s and he had the responsibility of looking after PA447 from an engineering/maintenance perspective. This was deemed something of an honour and 447 was extremely well looked after. For instance all the other Lancasters on the station were left out in all weathers, only moving inside for maintenance, but 447 was always put away in the warm every night.
The attached picture is an official one taken at RAF Watton with 447 on the hardstanding outside No 4 hangar by a certain Mr Smith (his first name and rank have been lost unfortunately). Mr Smith was an official RAF photographer who lived next door to us in the AMQ at RAF Watton. In fact his bicycle can be seen propped up at the rear of the aircraft.
My sister, who is a little older than me would very often sit in the cockpit under strict instructions not to touch anything. One Sunday morning when 447 was due for an engine test, my father hitched up the tug to the aircraft and towed it out of the hangar on his own (a serious offence if any damage had been done). My sister was then allowed to start one of the engines....How I would love the opportunity to do that today.
I hope you can now consider my promise fulfilled.
QP
I hope you can now consider my promise fulfilled.
Certainly can, Quepee, and what a good story!
You are probably aware that there's an interestingly similar one of PA447 at Habbaniya at Avro 683 Lancaster PR1, PA447, Royal Air Force - although I suspect that your father would not have been very happy with the propeller alignment .....
Jack
Certainly can, Quepee, and what a good story!
You are probably aware that there's an interestingly similar one of PA447 at Habbaniya at Avro 683 Lancaster PR1, PA447, Royal Air Force - although I suspect that your father would not have been very happy with the propeller alignment .....Jack
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Was Doylestown, PA, now Arnhem, NL
Age: 73
Posts: 130
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Propeller alignement
Union Jack,
Yes thanks for the link. I had already seen that one.
As for the propellers, my father was a stickler for details and I suspect someone would have been on a charge for leaving an aircraft in such an untidy fashion.
QP
Yes thanks for the link. I had already seen that one.
As for the propellers, my father was a stickler for details and I suspect someone would have been on a charge for leaving an aircraft in such an untidy fashion.
QP
Yet another nostalgia button pressed!!
IRIS were the bane of 'siggies's' lives. On the prowl world-wide, listening out for radio ops not strictly 'to the book'. One such, possibly apocryphal, featured a bad-tempered air/ground exchange which was terminated. from the air. by a series of initials. This was logged by IRIS and the culprit was hauled in to explain the obscene transmission. His response was that he had merely been abbreviating the complimentary close 'see you next trip' !! (If you are confused, combine the sound of the first two with the last two initials)
Memory says that the offender got away with a severe bollocking - memory has been known to be wrong!
IRIS were the bane of 'siggies's' lives. On the prowl world-wide, listening out for radio ops not strictly 'to the book'. One such, possibly apocryphal, featured a bad-tempered air/ground exchange which was terminated. from the air. by a series of initials. This was logged by IRIS and the culprit was hauled in to explain the obscene transmission. His response was that he had merely been abbreviating the complimentary close 'see you next trip' !! (If you are confused, combine the sound of the first two with the last two initials) Memory says that the offender got away with a severe bollocking - memory has been known to be wrong!
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Was Doylestown, PA, now Arnhem, NL
Age: 73
Posts: 130
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
To both Jacks, Union and Cornish,
Over the weekend I collected some of my late fathers belongings and discovered the attached page from Air Clues dated 1947. It details the first flight by PA447 on her official duties.
I hope you are interested.
QP
Over the weekend I collected some of my late fathers belongings and discovered the attached page from Air Clues dated 1947. It details the first flight by PA447 on her official duties.
I hope you are interested.
QP
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Was Doylestown, PA, now Arnhem, NL
Age: 73
Posts: 130
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
More clearing out of files
Dear All,
I thought I would add this little snippet as a finale to this thread. I know its not PA447 but a later IRIS however I though it a fitting tribute to both the name IRIS and to RAF Watton, particularly as it is the place of my birth. 79 AMQ to be precise.
I believe the cutting from the Eastern Daily Press is dated approx. 1966, has anyone got a more accurate date?
QP
I thought I would add this little snippet as a finale to this thread. I know its not PA447 but a later IRIS however I though it a fitting tribute to both the name IRIS and to RAF Watton, particularly as it is the place of my birth. 79 AMQ to be precise.
I believe the cutting from the Eastern Daily Press is dated approx. 1966, has anyone got a more accurate date?
QP
I believe the cutting from the Eastern Daily Press is dated approx. 1966, has anyone got a more accurate date?
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: South Africa
Age: 87
Posts: 1,329
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Reposting a couple of pics
THIS IS NOT A SALES PITCH
These 2 pics were processed with 'one click' using a FREE program called Ifranview.
I've been using it for some time. It works great for turning 'browned' prints back to B & W.
If you are interested giggle it.
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Was Doylestown, PA, now Arnhem, NL
Age: 73
Posts: 130
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Many thanks DaveReid for your input. I have seen these dates quoted previously, however as young school boy I used to cycle the 10 miles or so from Dereham to watch the flying at Watton in the period 1967 - 1969 and saw numerous Varsities and Canberras but never a Hastings. Or maybe I did but cannot now remember.
Also thanks to Ian16th for the link and useful tip. I will give the site a visit. I have another programme that will do the same thing but I don't use it much as its not particularly user friendly.
QP
Also thanks to Ian16th for the link and useful tip. I will give the site a visit. I have another programme that will do the same thing but I don't use it much as its not particularly user friendly.
QP
