Lest We Forget..........

The only two Lancaster bombers in flying condition, together at Dunsfold "Wings and Wheels" show.

The leading Lancaster is, Avro Lancaster PA474 "City of Lincoln" which was built by Vickers-Armstrongs Ltd at Chester in 1945 and was to be part of the British Tiger Force for strategic bombing in the Far East. With the end of the war with Japan the aircraft was not needed and PA474 entered storage. With gun turrets removed it was assigned to Photographic Reconnaissance duties with 82 Squadron in East and South Africa.
PA474 was transferred to the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight in 1973.
The paint scheme is periodically changed to represent notable Lancasters, and the aircraft is currently flown as a 617 Squadron Lancaster B I, DV385, “Thumper Mk III”. This aircraft was one of the brand-new standard Lancasters issued to 617 Squadron as replacements after the ‘Dams Raid’ in 1943.

The Lancaster keeping close quarter is, Avro Lancaster B X FM213 which was retired from active duty with the RCAF on 6 November 1963, displayed in Goderich, Ontario from 1964 to 1977 then stored at Dunnville, Ontario. FM213 had 4,392.3 hours on the airframe when it was handed over. It would probably have been sold for scrap metal except for the intervention of The Royal Canadian Legion in Goderich.
The aircraft was acquired by Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum in 1978, underwent a 10-year restoration, and has remained airworthy since 1988. The aircraft is flown in the paint scheme of KB726 VR-A and thus referred to as "Vera", a by-the-way nod to popular wartime British singer Vera Lynn, depicting an aircraft of No. 419 Squadron RCAF, and is known as the "Mynarski Memorial Lancaster" in honour of Canadian VC recipient Andrew Mynarski. FM213 departed Hamilton, Ontario on 4 August 2014, to take part in a series of events in formation with the world's only other airworthy Lancaster, PA474 during August and September. The North Atlantic crossing included en-route stops at Goose Bay Canada, Narsarsuaq Greenland, and Keflavik Iceland before arriving at RAF Coningsby, home of the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight. This is reported to be the first Atlantic crossing of a Lancaster since 1975.

As a child i learnt a lot about the planes of World War Two, the majority of lads i knew did, they were an item of legend, and of the lads i grew up with i don't remember anyone NOThaving made the Airfix model of the the Lancaster, Halifax, also a 4 engined bomber, and obviously the Spitfire and Hurricane.

Today i stood in awe at the sight of these two beauties, my arms were covered in Goose Bumps and the hairs were stood on end........

I feel very privileged to have seen these historic flying icons.

larger image....

j.