stiknruda

I was in Class G yesterday, transitting from East Anglia to the Midlands. I'd read the NOTAMS and had been terminated by Lakenheath Radar, so was monitoring Wyton as I passed a few miles to the South.

I'd spotted quite a lot of traffic and was keeping a vigilant look-out, 1800' agl.

All of a sudden I saw the shadow of a large aircraft on the ground half a mile ahead. It was coming straight towards me. I lowered the nose, raised the nose, rolled left and right but still couldn't see the aircraft. I was beginning to get seriously concerned and repeated my maneouvering and then spotted a 4 engine bomber about a thousand feet beneath me and about 50 yards on my 2 o'clock. The camouflage really made it quite hard to spot and despite explaining where and what it was, my pax hadn't seen it so I half-Cubaned
and positioned it in the cabane triangle.

Not too often that you get to look down on Europe's only airworthy Lancaster!

Even from half a mile away (slant) it is a large and imposing beastie!

I think that BBMF is a great institution!


Stik

DX Wombat

As far as I'm concerned the Hurricane and Spitfire come a poor second to the truly graceful Lancaster. Stik - you are a lucky person. I was fortunate to be at Elvington earlier this year when the BBMF did a flypast - about 50' overhead the edge runway where we were sitting for judging the Aerobatics Competition. It was my first time helping as a scribe but those three passes really made my day.

sitigeltfel

Myself and a few friends attended the 60th anniversary of the D-Day landings in 2004 and our route took us over the Pont du Normandy, the magnificent suspension bridge that crosses the Seine at Le Havre.

As we came over the peak of the bridge and were heading down the other side the Lanc came in low over Honfleur and did a few orbits of the area. It looked like they were killing time waiting for their slot over the beaches.

I think the last time the area saw such a sight it would not have been healthy to stand about gawping.

stiknruda

DX - I totally agree but have to be very careful who I say it to, one of my best friends flies the BBMF fighters!

I have spent quite a bit of time sitting in the Lancaster gate-guardian at RAF Scampton and never left it without the sense of sheer awe at the bravery of the 55000 men of Bomber Command, who never came back.

DX Wombat

Stik, I couldn't agree more. Seeing the American War Memorial at Duxford for the first time had a profound effect on me and it still does. My father flew, amongst other things, Yorks which, as you know, were the passenger / freight version of the Lancaster, if I am visiting Cosford or Duxford I usually try to see the Yorks - the one at Cosford being the only complete one. There is a lovely Lancaster being rebuilt at the RAAF Museum, Bullcreek, West Australia - it may even be complete by now.
Oooooh! Now I'm really envious. The Hurricane and Spitfire are both great aircraft in their own right but somehow just lack the sheer elegance of the Lancaster. The bravery and skill of ALL those wartime pilots, whatever they flew, is unquestionable and absolutely incredible.

This is just one panel of the memorial at Duxford. Each aircraft represents one aircraft of that type and its crew lost in WW2. It is the most thought-provoking, superbly designed memorial I know of; the other is the memorial to all the female pilots of WW2 which is located at Elvington and is, as far as I am aware, the only one of its kind.

TheKentishFledgling

I agree, it's an incredibly moving memorial. I took some friends into Duxford a month or so ago. One of the girls was, quite literally, moved to tears when she saw the memorial, having incorrectly thought each aircraft was for each American Airman lost in WWII. It was quite hard having to explain to her they represented each airCRAFT, and that each would have a large crew.

tKF

DX Wombat

TKF - I think part of its effect is the result of its sheer simplicity - no names to read of either the crews or the aircraft, not even the number of crew in each one, just the sheer, stark reality of what each aircraft engraving represents. RIP

DX Wombat

For those pilots amongst you who may like to show a little appreciation and thanks for what was done for us have a look here. One day's flying in a year (or driving if the weather is too poor to fly) is precious little to give by way of thanks for what we all enjoy now. DO think seriously about it then sign up - I promise you won't regret it.

aviate1138

Also those young Yanks that fought so far from home and used to give us chewing gum and chocolate bars so they could chat up our mothers!
I often passed over Madingley Cemetery and all those crosses and always gave a silent thanks for their contribution in allowing me to fly for pleasure around the UK.
Aviate1138
Richard Bird photograph from Sally B

LowNSlow

Many moons ago when I was renewing my IMC rating at Southampton the BBMF overnighted there with the Lanc, a Spit and the Hurricane in desert camoflage. My instructor and I asked when they were launching for the show over Lee-on-Solent and arranged to be at 2,500' above them. Watching them doing a few wide orbits as they lined up for the display run was superb. Even the Hurricane in it's sandy colours was initially hard to see against the countryside below. We managed a fast dive down to get a Messerschmidt pilot's eye view of the Lanc, no we weren't even close as they were doing around 160-170 knots and we were at around 130 but it was still an awesome sight. Just so typical that I didn't have my camera with me but it will be etched on my memory forever.

farmerted

I was flying from RAF Wyton on an air experiance flight and spotted the BBMF Lancaster. It was an amazing site.

stickandrudderman

A few years ago I was asked if I'd be interested in taking an ex-Lancaster pilot up in the PA28 for his 90th Birthday, and naturally, after establishing that he would be fit enough, I was delighted to oblige.
I called up the head of the BBMF at Conningsby, (who's name, much to my shame, has escaped me) and asked if it would be possible to re-unite the chap (Mac Morrell was his name) with the Lancaster. They took my number and said they'd call me back.
About a month later, I was in California for some cheap Mooney time, when I was woken at 2AM by my mobile.
It was Sdn Leader (shameonmeagian), who explained to me that Mr. Morrell was in fact a holder of the DFC, and duly read out his citation.
After this recital we both had moisture in our eyes, and it was agreed that I could indeed fly Mac up to Conningsby, and that the RAF would "sponsor" the visit. This meant a considerable reduction in the usually large landing fee at an active RAF station.
A day was set and the weather closed in.
Another day was set and this time there were no interventions from any Supreme Beings.
Mac, complete with handle-bar moustache, and his step-son Chris duly arrived at Denham and off we set.
I put Mac in the RH seat and gave hime the chart, duly marked with our intended course, and I was amazed at how easily he was able to follow our progress, all the while regailing us with tails of exploits at the now dis-used airfields that we passed.
"Oh, yes that's EGXX, I've crash landed there you know!"
Conningsby were expecting us, and I freely admit that I, with all of 81hrs P1 in my log book, had to make considerable efforts to avoid the necessity of having to make an in flight recalculation of my weight and balance figures!
By some miracle, a smooth landing ensued, and we were given instructions by the very friendly ATC to continue on past the row of Eurofighters and park on the Apron where the (uniformed) marshall, chocks in hand, was waiting for us!
We were greeted with the very unfamiliar salutation of "Sir" and escorted to the BBMF office.
Here's where the story really starts!
Mac's original squadron book was laid out on the table, opened at the page containing the mission which had lead to his decoration.
Mac read through it and recalled all of the friends that he had known and who had not been fortunate enough to survive.
There was one name that Mac particularly remembered, as he had been best man at the chap's wedding just a week before he was lost.
Sdn. Leader Shameonmeagain, who's help and kindness cannot be understated, then showed us into the hallowed halls of the BBMF hangar, where we were greeted by the ever-so-slightly impressive sight of the Lancaster, standing proudly and majestically on guard over her family of Spitfires, Hurricanes, Chipmunks and the C47.
As we approached the Lanc. Mac noticed a member of the ground crew going about his business under the STBD wing, and made point of going up and shaking his hand, thanking him for his work! It seems that this was a habit Mac got into during his war years.
The inside of the Lancaster is not unlike what I imagine the inside of a submarine to be like! It is very cramped and congested, with access to the cockpit being gained by climbing over the small space between the roof and the main spar, a feat which Mac accomplished with practiced ease, despite his age.
Words, imbeciles that they are, cannot begin to convey the emotions experienced as I sat in the pilots seat and Mac told us the story of how he was awared the DFC.
Sadly, our time to leave was soom upon us, and we reluctantly departed back for Denham.
Your writer has never felt so humble as at this time!
As an aside; the service we got en-route back from Conningsby seemed a lot more friendly than on the way up, with Luton volunteering us a route via the overhead! I accepted, made a complete balls up of it and was duly given a severe rollicking! I guess that since we'd departed from Coningsby they'd expected more of me!
One of the things that struck me most about Mac was his manners.
There was I, a humble and lowly PPL, doing what anyone of us would gladly pay to do, and he just wouldn't stop thanking me.
As I shook his hand at Denham, I was acutely aware that I might never see this man again, and found it very difficult to take.
My thanks go to the BBMF for receiving us, to Chris for asking me in the first place, and most of all Mac, for, well, everything.
My apologies are extended to Sqn Leader shameonmeagain, without whom it could not have happened.
Epilogue:
Sadly, Mac died two years later.
I'd love to be able to say that he died peacefully in his sleep, but regrettably his last days were marred by very poor treatement at an NHS hospital, where the staff were obviously ignorant of the sacrifices that Mac had made.

alvin-sfc

What a great experience for you all. Thanks for sharing that with us.We do indeed,owe men like Mac,so much.

panjandrum

Wow! Great post S.A.R.M - thank you!
Believe it or not we had a noise complaint about the Lancaster flying past the airport on Saturday, someone 2 miles from the runway who didn't like the noise What can you do, eh?!

stiknruda

Al Pinner is the current BBMF boss - been in post for about 4 years if memory serves me correctly.

Stik

stickandrudderman

Thanks Stik, but that name doesn't ring a bell.
Having re-read my post, I'm not even sure that it was "Sqdn leader" anybody, more flight Sgnt or something. Not being ex mil these titles don't really mean much to me I'm afraid, but I would like him to know how grateful I am.

Chukkablade

SARM, to echo the past comment, thank you for taking the time to post that recollection.

looptheloop

The Lancaster was part of the Little Gransden airshow, and made a very special tribute to the 405 Pathfinder squadron who opertated out of the airstrip during the war. On sunday four ex servicemen lowered their squadron flags as the Lancaster flew past and the local Priest read a service of rememberence accompanied by the noise of the approaching engines. As the service drew to a close the Canadian Pathfinders flew past in their Aurora, flown over from Germany, to mark the occaision.
The sight of the Lancaster holding in the distance while it waited for the men to proudly marched on to the edge of the runway was very moving.

Gipsy Queen

"I have spent quite a bit of time sitting in the Lancaster gate-guardian at RAF Scampton and never left it without the sense of sheer awe at the bravery of the 55000 men of Bomber Command, who never came back."

Thank you, Stik and others.

And those miserable, pathetic and ungrateful Whitehall toadies still refuse to award a campaign medal for those who gave so much in the one fighting service which actually can be shown to have had a demonstrable affect upon the outcome of the war.

But the post-war tree-huggers and other worthless types vilified Harris, Bennett et al so that Bomber Command and its magnificent achievements were quietly swept under the carpet by the Attlee government which achieved nothing by comparison - although credit has to be given for the introduction of the NHS.

It is a sickening and shameful situation reflecting great discredit upon all of us.

GQ.

D120A

Over 30 years ago, when I was on a squadron at RAF Binbrook, the station hosted a visit from the No. 460 Sqn RAAF association, the Australian aircrew who had flown Lancasters from the station during World War 2. It wasn’t the first time they had been back but it was to be their last, they said, because their numbers were dwindling. Indeed their leader, Group Captain Hughie Edwards VC, had died shortly before the visit and they were feeling his loss and his absence among them.

After tea in the squadron we suggested that they might like to visit the dispersals on the southern edge of the airfield, from where their Lancasters had operated. We didn’t tell them. A bus took them out there and they breathed the Lincolnshire air again and looked over the valley and walked round the dispersal pans. Little had changed, they said, even the old air raid shelters had been cleared out and put back into use as an ops bunker and shelters for dispersed Lightning operations. It was good to see it all again. Still we didn’t tell them.

We quietly looked at our watches. After about five minutes, right on cue, there was a distant but unmistakeable sound across the valley and the first of them turned towards it and gave a shout. The others followed, and the last to realise what was going on were those who had temporarily turned off their hearing aids. Across the valley, pointing straight at them, came the BBMF Lancaster from Coningsby, and roared straight over their heads. It then actually climbed to enter the circuit and, before they had gathered their wits it had landed, taxied up to the dispersals and shut down.

They stood there rooted to the spot, with their blue blazers, and their ties, and their medals, and they wept. We did too, and I can hardly write these words now. Most had no idea there was a Lancaster still flying, let alone one based just down the road from Binbrook. The next hour was spent sitting in, or just touching, a Lanc. A hot Lanc, still ticking. It was an unforgettable day.

Next year I am going to Australia to visit my son in Sydney. Top of the list of the other places I want to see is the museum in Canberra where ex-Binbrook Lancaster AR-G (remember the first Airfix kit? – we all made it) sits with pride. I am sure most of our 1975 visitors must be gone now, but I shall touch their Lancaster as they touched PA474, and say a little prayer for them. Thanks, guys, you are not forgotten.