BBMF Spitfire visit Laarbruch 1979/80
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M/Eng Derek Butcher.
I know its a year since this post was started but I have just come across it through social media. Wonderful to read this as I am the proud daughter of M/Eng Robert Derek Butcher. I believe he was the only one to fly the Lancaster during the war and also on BBMF. Good to hear the story of the oil leak, not heard that one before. I also knew Bill Holdsworth very well. Also knew Ray Leach, Ian Gibson, Jacko Jackson. Still keep in touch with Mrs Jackson.
Would love to hear from anyone who new my Dad.
Best Regards Pauline Roose - Butcher
Would love to hear from anyone who new my Dad.
Best Regards Pauline Roose - Butcher
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Spitfire Laarbruch 1978
Yes, I remeber the Spitfire at Laarbruch as I was on the Airfield when it arrived. It caused quite a strir in the local area as it was reported that it tore round the local area. Germans stopping cars and jumping in ditches etc. I understood it was ther for BB week.
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It's my understanding the last time Spitfires visited Laarbruch (prior to this), they didn't land . . .
M. Eng Butcher - it was my pleasure to know this gentleman at RAF Finningley. Nice guy and very modest - unlike his sidekick Chuck K.
M. Eng Butcher - it was my pleasure to know this gentleman at RAF Finningley. Nice guy and very modest - unlike his sidekick Chuck K.
Is Ray Leach still around? Remember him from the HQSTC STO team - he handed my OC Admin a Sterling and asked him to strip it - OC AW returned it without a word (nor having stripped it!)
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Pauline
I worked with your father during my time on the BBMF groundcrew between 1975 and 1979 at both Coltishall and Coningsby. Both your father and Gibbo were great Flight Engineers and were a pleasure to both work and socialise with. Both Jacko and Gibbo could be grumpy at times though. The last time I met Betty was at Jacko's funeral at Woodhall Spa. When asked how quick she had returned from Boston after the private cremation she replied "I fast tracked him".
I have been invited to Coningsby on the 13th August to see both Lancaster's fly together for their PDA, it will be a sight I thought I would never see in my lifetime.
I worked with your father during my time on the BBMF groundcrew between 1975 and 1979 at both Coltishall and Coningsby. Both your father and Gibbo were great Flight Engineers and were a pleasure to both work and socialise with. Both Jacko and Gibbo could be grumpy at times though. The last time I met Betty was at Jacko's funeral at Woodhall Spa. When asked how quick she had returned from Boston after the private cremation she replied "I fast tracked him".
I have been invited to Coningsby on the 13th August to see both Lancaster's fly together for their PDA, it will be a sight I thought I would never see in my lifetime.
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Robin - Eldest son of M/Eng Ian Gibson
Hello Pauline And Everyone who knew my Dad. I came across this website by chance, whilst trawling through the history of PA474. I was at Waddington back in August to see the 2 Lancs at their younger sister XH558. Great day. This took me back to when Our Dads were aircrew. I first met Derek, Shelia and Pauline back in 1969/70 when our Dads were stationed at Boscombe Down. Yes Dad could be "Grumpy" at times, but when he and Derek got together, they were like naughty school boys always chuckling. I remember, Bill, Jacko and Ray's name rings a bell. I have enjoyed reading your comments. Thank You. Any More..? Oh.. Did the PA474 ever visit Berlin during the 70's? Or was it the same trip as Laarbruch?
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Robin - Eldest son of M/Eng Ian Gibson
Fan Blade - Thank You for your remarks on Derek and Dad. Yes he could be grumpy...LOL But when he and Derek got together. they were like naughty school boys, always chuckling... I've come across this website by chance after going through the history of PA474. Someone thought Laarbruch was the only time the Lanc visited Germany? But wasn't there a trip to Berlin during the 70's too? I remember Bill and "Jacko" and the Name Ray Leach does ring a bell too. Any more anecdotes from those days would love to hear them. I was at Waddington back in August for the memorial fly pass. Great Day and great to be up and close to the old girl.... And Hello to Pauline too.....First time I met Derek, Shelia and Pauline, would have been 1969/70....RAF Boscombe Down... We were but children then...Ahh!
Cheers
Robin..
Cheers
Robin..
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From a Logbook check. The BBMF Lanc flew direct from Coningsby to Laaarbruch on 24Sep82 for an 11(F) Sqn event. The aircraft flew, displayed, at Laarbruch and Wildenrath on 25Sep prior to returning from Laarbruch to Coningsby via Manston on 26Sep82.
That was the final series of flights for the Lanc that year. Out of interest the Flight Engineer was MEng Derek Butcher who had joined the RAF in 1942 and been shot down in a Lanc over Abeville in August 1944. He was taken prisoner and escaped twice, the second time living with a family in Brussels until the city was liberated by Canadian and British Forces. I believe this was his first revisit to Germany in a Lanc since the war so there was time to look out of the windows and enjoy the scenery and reminisce.
A story from the Laarbruch transit - The Lanc was normally pretty pristine and seldom leaked oil. Somewhere en route the No 3 engine developed a small oil leak and I pointed this out to Derek. He took one quick look and said something quietly along the lines of. 'OK, I see it and will tell you before you need to worry!!' Nicely put - and me well in my place but even more respectful when I considered his background. I think this may have been Derek's last outing with the Flight.
The co-pilot was Bill Houldsworth; he joined the RAF in 1943 as a WOpAG flying Ansons, Whitleys, Wellingtons, Stirlings, Halifaxes and Lancasters before reroling to pilot in 1951. He subsequently flew Lancasters, Neptunes, Hastings and Shackletons (MR and AEW).
Bill flew on Operation Manna, dropping food supplies to the Dutch in May 1945; his final flight in the RAF was on the 1985 (40th) anniversary of Operation Manna when the Flight dropped leaflets and poppies - and also a tin of Liquorice Allsorts on a small parachute as had been done on several occasions in 1945. Bill organised the sweetie aspect and the Bassets Liquorice All Sorts were duly dropped over the airfield at Gilze Rijen by Bill, from the rear turret, and later presented to a local orphanage - typical Bill.
Bill was something of a legend in the Maritime world before coming to help out at Coningsby where he was an Ops Officer full time and part time Lancaster pilot from whom I learned a great deal. I was starting with zero hours in the left seat and about 25 hours total on the Lanc. It was a comfort for confidence to have colleagues such as Bill and Derek; in the early months it was Bill that did the stronger crosswind landings and the approaches into the shorter airfields
Hope that puts a bit more flesh on the outing. Respects to two grand men and aviators who are with us no more.
That was the final series of flights for the Lanc that year. Out of interest the Flight Engineer was MEng Derek Butcher who had joined the RAF in 1942 and been shot down in a Lanc over Abeville in August 1944. He was taken prisoner and escaped twice, the second time living with a family in Brussels until the city was liberated by Canadian and British Forces. I believe this was his first revisit to Germany in a Lanc since the war so there was time to look out of the windows and enjoy the scenery and reminisce.
A story from the Laarbruch transit - The Lanc was normally pretty pristine and seldom leaked oil. Somewhere en route the No 3 engine developed a small oil leak and I pointed this out to Derek. He took one quick look and said something quietly along the lines of. 'OK, I see it and will tell you before you need to worry!!' Nicely put - and me well in my place but even more respectful when I considered his background. I think this may have been Derek's last outing with the Flight.
The co-pilot was Bill Houldsworth; he joined the RAF in 1943 as a WOpAG flying Ansons, Whitleys, Wellingtons, Stirlings, Halifaxes and Lancasters before reroling to pilot in 1951. He subsequently flew Lancasters, Neptunes, Hastings and Shackletons (MR and AEW).
Bill flew on Operation Manna, dropping food supplies to the Dutch in May 1945; his final flight in the RAF was on the 1985 (40th) anniversary of Operation Manna when the Flight dropped leaflets and poppies - and also a tin of Liquorice Allsorts on a small parachute as had been done on several occasions in 1945. Bill organised the sweetie aspect and the Bassets Liquorice All Sorts were duly dropped over the airfield at Gilze Rijen by Bill, from the rear turret, and later presented to a local orphanage - typical Bill.
Bill was something of a legend in the Maritime world before coming to help out at Coningsby where he was an Ops Officer full time and part time Lancaster pilot from whom I learned a great deal. I was starting with zero hours in the left seat and about 25 hours total on the Lanc. It was a comfort for confidence to have colleagues such as Bill and Derek; in the early months it was Bill that did the stronger crosswind landings and the approaches into the shorter airfields
Hope that puts a bit more flesh on the outing. Respects to two grand men and aviators who are with us no more.
Reading some of the other posts I seem to recall back in 82 being told that It was the first time BBMF Lanc had been back to Germany, but it was along time ago. Bill did mention the Shackleton flight where they filled the tail fins with sea water and he also spoke was on the longest Shackleton flight of 24+ hours.
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Lancaster in Germany
Thought these 2 may be of interest, taken by me from the Tower as AJ-G flew past XV as part of a multi aircraft display. The Lancaster also took various people up on local trips, not me unfortunately and I haven`t seen it flown quite so enthusiastically since. Can`t be too sure, memory fade, but I think an HS125 from 32 escorted the Lady across to help with radios, nav possibly.
