View Full Version : RAF Scampton - Gate Guard (Lancaster)
Could be the last?
16th Jun 2007, 19:29
Gents,
Just wanted to clarify the ac type used as a Gate Guard at RAF Scampton. I can vaguely recall a Lancaster standing proud at the entrance to the camp. Does anyone know where it is now? Or was it something else?:confused:
Sospan
16th Jun 2007, 19:43
For many years a bomber (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Avro_Lancaster) was gate guardian (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gate_guardian) at Scampton, along with the large bouncing (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bouncing_bomb) and Grand Slam (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grand_Slam) bombs they had carried, but this first Lancaster was moved to the RAF (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Royal_Air_Force) museum at Hendon (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hendon).
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RAF_Scampton
And in her full glory......
http://www.rafmuseum.org.uk/london/virtual-tours/bomberhall_tour.cfm
Hot Charlie
16th Jun 2007, 19:49
She was followed by "Just Jane", now at East Kirkby.:)
Could be the last?
16th Jun 2007, 20:02
How about a Lancaster outside Air Cmd, to complement the fighter?
Sospan
16th Jun 2007, 20:34
There are number of reasons this is not viable:-
1. These museum pieces are hard to come by and any owners would not be prepared to allow the RAF to leave such history outside rotting.
2. Trasnporting and maintaining such a fragile aircraft outside would not only be costly but a logistical nightmare.
Green Flash
16th Jun 2007, 22:15
Didn't I read somewhere that the Grand Slam on display at the main gate was found to be live!:eek: It was eventually moved/defused/blown up at the Wash, or something???:confused:
Hempy
16th Jun 2007, 23:44
Didn't I read somewhere that the Grand Slam on display at the main gate was found to be live!:eek: It was eventually moved/defused/blown up at the Wash, or something???:confused:
apparently true. Exhaustive investigations then took place, but nobody could find the long-gone 1944, 1945 or 1946 records which might have shown how a live 22,000 lb bomb became a gate guard for nearly the next decade and a half (http://www.gunnies.pac.com.au/gallery/grand_slam.htm)
Blacksheep
17th Jun 2007, 01:07
When I worked on restoring PA474 ('66 -'69) we tried to scrounge the mid-upper turret from the Scampton gate guard, but their Staish wouldn't hear of it. So we flew her for years with a flush top. Miserable git.
Roland Pulfrew
17th Jun 2007, 08:32
How about a Lancaster outside Air Cmd, to complement the fighter?
Sadly, or is that happily, I hear that there will soon be a (plastic) Spitfire opposite the (plastic) Hurricane outside Air Command. In a way it is a pity as this means a further erosion of the links to the home of BOMBER Command. I note that the 'Blocks' have started to sprout names like Hurricane, Spitfire, Gladiator etc. Is this yet more proof that the fighter/fast-jet mafia running the place.:(
How about a plastic Mosquito BIV outside the main gate if we cannot have a Lancaster (understandably). At least it has links to Bomber Command!!
Pontius Navigator
17th Jun 2007, 09:58
I was with Jane last night. She was in fine form with UV lighting making her perspex shine with a pinkish glow.
As for plastic Spits. Have you see the PR Spit at Benson? Most of the station have no idea why an unarmed sky blue Spit is at the entrance to a helicopter base. Equally sad is the anhedral on the tail plane. They may think that normal too.:\
Hot Charlie
17th Jun 2007, 12:14
How about a plastic Mosquito BIV outside the main gate if we cannot have a Lancaster (understandably)
I read that Peter Jackson's studio were making a full size model(s) for their upcoming Dambusters remake. Perhaps they could offer it a permanent home?
Top Bunk Tester
17th Jun 2007, 12:33
Before transferring to aircrew I did two tours on Crash n Smash @ Abingdon. I had the honour of being part of the team that dismantled 'Just Jane' and then transported her to East Kirkby. It's great to see her back in taxxiing form now.
RRAAMJET
17th Jun 2007, 13:03
Indeed, Pontius....
I was on TQF when they removed the original PR and replaced it with the plastic Bismarck finder...
Unbelievably, we had then had a very real ME-109 on the station but no real Spit to complement it.
What's the news with the 2 Canadian Lancs, anybody? I had an offer several years ago to visit the one outside Calgary, I think it was, from one of the restorers - never got a chance.:(
Pontius Navigator
17th Jun 2007, 14:07
RRammjet, I believe one CA Lanc is airworthy.
GeeRam
17th Jun 2007, 15:00
RRammjet, I believe one CA Lanc is airworthy.
FM213 belonging to the Canadian Warplane Heritage at Mount Hope is indeed currently airworthy.
And FM159 at Nanton is capable of ground running.
Plus there are another additional 6 complete Lancasters in Canada with various groups and national museums, plus various incomplete sections of other aircraft.
adrian mole
18th Jun 2007, 12:44
What happened to the one that used to be on a plinth outside Calgary International Airport when we started going there in 1972?
Echo 5
18th Jun 2007, 12:58
Adrian,
What happened to the one that used to be on a plinth outside Calgary International Airport when we started going there in 1972?
Thought that was a Liberator or a Hudson. Memory is fading !!
adrian mole
18th Jun 2007, 13:51
E5 - No, that was the Hudson on the plinth on the way down to Gander from the Airport...
GeeRam
18th Jun 2007, 17:27
What happened to the one that used to be on a plinth outside Calgary International Airport when we started going there in 1972?
I believe this will be FM136 which was removed from it's pole perch in 1992 and transferred to the care/restoration of Aero Space Museum.
http://www.ruudleeuw.com/images/alcan06/6987-th.jpg
SpotterFC
18th Jun 2007, 20:31
Wondered where the Bentley Spit had gone. Last time it disappeared from there it ended up on a buidling on the A40 for the 50th Anniversary of the BoB.
BTW, anybody got some T-cut and about 10 SACs on jankers? The Hurri is looking a bit more faded than I remember from when I was at Bentley in the mid-90s and could really do with a polish.
henry crun
18th Jun 2007, 21:44
Some of you may not know that there is one in very good condition in New Zealand. http://www.rsa.org.nz/review/art2002october/article_3.html
GeeRam
18th Jun 2007, 22:39
BTW, anybody got some T-cut and about 10 SACs on jankers? The Hurri is looking a bit more faded than I remember from when I was at Bentley in the mid-90s and could really do with a polish.
Has the fibreglass got a polishable paint finish......:bored:
themightyimp
22nd Jun 2007, 21:30
The plastic Hurricane outside HQ Air is only 3/4 scale. Defence cuts probably. Still a saving of 25% - it will keep Gordon happy.
Fluffy Bunny
23rd Jun 2007, 01:28
The last lanc on gate guard at Scampers was NX611.
Can't remember the full details of her history but I do have the book about her somewhere.
IIRC she's connected with Lord Lichfield in some way shape or form.
BTW the book"s called "story of a lanc" should anyone else have a copy.
Its a shame RAF Scampton no longer has a gate guard, I wonder what it would take to get one back now its a full Station again? I guess there will be a few F3s spare pretty soon!
Wader2
3rd Jul 2007, 12:17
Its a shame RAF Scampton no longer has a gate guard, I wonder what it would take to get one back now its a full Station again? I guess there will be a few F3s spare pretty soon!
Thought a Hawk would be more appropriate. They have a spare right now do they not? :}
Jaguar Pilot
3rd Jul 2007, 17:16
Why on earth would anyone want to install an F3 or Hawk as a Scampton gate guard please?
We're talking history and heritage here. It therefore has to be a famous WW2 bomber, and the most successful at that.:ugh:
Now then, what was the name of Guy Gibsons' labrador.......?
JP
GeeRam
3rd Jul 2007, 21:28
We're talking history and heritage here. It therefore has to be a famous WW2 bomber, and the most successful at that.
Now then, what was the name of Guy Gibsons' labrador.......?
Talking of Gibson, Scampton, famous WW2 bombers and heritage....perhaps we should remember that Gibson's actual Dams raid Lanc, ED932 AJ-G was still complete and unmollested, sitting out on the Scampton airfield perimeter as late as mid 1947 before being unceremoniously scrapped that year........:ugh:
What price that now as an exhibt in RAFM or in a covered display building at Scampton itself........
Jaguar Pilot
4th Jul 2007, 13:59
GeeRam,
What price that now as an exhibt in RAFM or in a covered display building at Scampton itself........
Absolutely priceless - but we'll still keep doing it in the future!
It's interesting that Jaguar cars have always kept one example of every model produced - at least as far as I know, and I've had several including one of the last V12s. Perhaps we could liken an XK150 to a Lancaster - both astonishing designs in their day and a tribute to British engineering.
Vorsprung durch der Dreimal Reich und national survival - zig!
oder
Vorsprung durch Le Mans und Heritage
JP
Wader2
4th Jul 2007, 14:10
Why on earth would anyone want to install . . . Hawk as a Scampton gate guard please?
Hook, line, sinker?
Quite agree about the F3 though. GR3 or GR4 if you must but better a Vulcan and better still a Lanc.
That said, the Pantons are caring for their Lanc rather better than the Waddington Vulcan. I know one is being paid for by the viewing public and the other from pennies squeezed from the budget but how about a bit of public fund raising for the Waddington Vulcan?
Jaguar Pilot
4th Jul 2007, 18:19
Wader2
Was sprecht sie meine leiben Fuhrer?
Vulcan? Eine machine aus das War kald dumkopff!
Hook, line, sinker? was ist?
Lancaster? Eine machine aus das War heisse.
Liebenstraum und "Union Jack" uber alles.
Achtung alles lookenpeepers im diese site.
Zig Heil Bomber Harris.....
JP
InfraBoy
5th Jul 2007, 11:00
Where on earth did you get the idea that the Hurricane was only 3/4 scale? It is the one from Coltishall and there has only ever been one mold taken for the 'plastic' hurricanes and that was taken from an aircraft in the RAF Museum.
I did hear about an office of older SNCOs at HQ Air that went outside with a tape measure because they were unsure too!!!
Wader2
5th Jul 2007, 11:06
Where on earth did you get the idea that the . . . was only 3/4 scale?
I did hear about an office of older SNCOs at HQ Air that went outside with a tape measure because they were unsure too!!!
Mmm :)
I wonder if we can resurect this thread in, say, about 9 months time.
"The Vulcan at Waddington is really a Mk 1 painted to look like a Mk 2"
"The Hunter at Halton is plastic"
"The bombs as BBMF are live"
It could be good for a laugh :}
Or
"The Spirt of Adventure at Abindon will be as good as last year's."