Lancaster Questions

[spargazer]

G-BCOH

The Lancaster was destroyed in a roof collapse at Woodford in about 87 as discussed. Details can be found on the "The Official Woodford Farewell Group" on facebook, it was all very sad, and avoidable.

[Centaurus]

The Mark 31 "Long Nose" Lincoln came into service in March 1955 with 10 and 11 Squadrons being so equipped, these aircraft were disposed of in 1961/1962 with the introduction of the Lockheed Neptune.

Only No 10 Squadron based at Townsville were equipped with the Lincoln Mk 31 (Long nose). They were flying much earlier than 1955. 11 Squadron had the Neptunes.

The project to rebuild a Lincoln in Melbourne is a fine idea but I wouldn't hold my breath on it. In 15 years from now, maybe?

[Dick1939]

Lancaster kb976

If anyone wants the full and accurate story of 976, ask me. I went to St. Albert in April 1974 first to buy it then spent months preparing the aircraft for its flight to strathallan - I also flew back with the Lancaster as the BCal crew wouldn't fly the trip if I wasn't to prepared to fly with them! After Charles church purchased the aeroplane, he took me on to both run Popham and initially to be in charge of the rebuild at woodford. I was there when the hangar roof collapsed and was responsible for the storage of the damaged aircraft after.
What readers will not be aware of is the fact that on Charles church's behalf I was trying to trade or purchase the lanc parked in Nova Scotia and at the same time Charles was trying very hard to buy Fred's (RIP) Lancaster too. Charles had a plan to fly three lancasters. Now there's something to imagine! Then there was the Beaufighter we were negotiating for..........there was no stopping Charles! If Charles had been alive today, imagine Popham!!!
Cheers all.....Dick

[Blacksheep]

If my memory serves me PA474, the BBMF Lancaster, used to be the gate guard at Waddington, when G-ASXX was flown back from Australia for restoration they where going to use PA474 as a spares source, when they started inspections on both airframes they found that 474 was in better condition than SXX so based the resoration on this frame instead.

Your memory is faulty, Sir.

PA474 was at RAF Henlow to be prepared for static display at Hendon, having been used for "Midge Wing" and "Laminar Flow Wing" trials at Cranfield then handed off to the RAF Air Historical Branch. The O.C. 44 (Rhodesia) Squadron at Waddington, Wg.Cdr. D'Arcy, persuaded them to hand the aircraft over to 44(R) and it was flown to Waddington in 1965. Despite some discussion of PA474 becoming a gate guard for the station, it was intended that the aircraft should continue flying in 44(R) Sqn colours, as K-MB, Sqn.Ldr. Nettleton V.C.'s aircraft.

Work began on restoring the aircraft to its wartime appearance with gun turrets etc. The front and rear turrets had been installed in 1966 when I first laid a spanner - or to be more accurate a Hellerman Crimping Kit - upon the aircraft. My job was to strip out all the trials wiring and old rubber insulated original wiring and replace it with (then) modern Nyvin. The rubber insulation was rotting and falling off - in places the conductors were completely bare! The restoration team got her to Farnborough for the 1968 air show and kept her flying until transfer to the BBMF in 1973, though I last worked on her in 1969, when I was posted out to Changi.