RAF Scampton - Gate Guard (Lancaster)
 

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:

For many years a bomber was gate guardian at Scampton, along with the large bouncing and Grand Slam bombs they had carried, but this first Lancaster was moved to the RAF museum at Hendon.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RAF_Scampton

And in her full glory......

http://www.rafmuseum.org.uk/london/v...rhall_tour.cfm

She was followed by "Just Jane", now at East Kirkby.:)

How about a Lancaster outside Air Cmd, to complement the fighter?

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.

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

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.

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!!

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.:\

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?

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.

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.:(

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.

What happened to the one that used to be on a plinth outside Calgary International Airport when we started going there in 1972?

Adrian,
Thought that was a Liberator or a Hudson. Memory is fading !!

E5 - No, that was the Hudson on the plinth on the way down to Gander from the Airport...

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

Air Command GGs
 

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.