Before departure all airmen were fitted out with three sets of made to measure Saville Row Dress uniforms.
On the 8th July 1946, 'A' Flight consisting of eight Lancasters under W/C Craig departed Graveley on the first leg of Operation Goodwill. The C in C along with many others came to see them off at the end of the runway. 'B' Flight under S/L Harris left on the ninth with a further eight aircraft.
'A' Flight departure for America, Graveley, July 8th 1946.
The route was Graveley - St Mawgan - Lagens (Azores) - Gander (Newfoundland) - Mitchell Field, New York. Problems with weather over Gander delayed 'A' Flight's departure from Lagens which was unfortunate as accommodation was limited and it meant that both flights were there at the same time. The squadron finally arrived at Newfoundland on the 12th. They departed Gander on the 17th for the six hour flight to Mitchell Field and over Boston they flew in formation down the coast at about two thousand feet to the airfield on Long Island.
W/C Craig meets OC Mitchell Field, Colonel L R Parker, July 17th 1946.
On parade. Note guns present in the turrets and the squadron badge on the side of the cockpit.
USAAF band.
At ease, '98 degrees in the shade'. The Avro York is in the background.