Two Lancasters over Lincoln Today

[firbeck 859]

For those of you who can nip over to Lincoln today and this includes Plantfitt in particular, you will be blessed with the sight of the two only airworthy Lancasters in the world flying together, this hasn't happened since the making of the 'Dambusters' film 60 years ago.

The Canadian based Lancaster has flown over the Atlantic, after a stopover in Iceland, it will be on it's way over the North Atlantic to Prestwick in Scotland as I write this.

After refuelling, the Canadian Lanc will head for Humberside, south of Scunthorpe where it will rendezvous with the BBMF Lanc and an escort of 2 Spitfires and 2 Hurricanes. Heading for Scampton, the Red Arrows will join the formation and they will pass over Lincoln Cathedral at 500ft, the Reds in formation 500ft above them making smoke. THIS IS TIMED TO HAPPEN AT 13:20pm. The whole ensemble will travel via RAF Waddington, RAF Cranwell where the Reds will break off and form a holding pattern. The two Lancs and fighters will do a run and break at Conningsby before landing in front of a group of 100 former Bomber Command veterans, as they taxi in the Reds will do a low level smoke on pass. This event seems to have been ignored by the BBC, I've heard that Sky News are transmitting it live from 13:00 pm. Get over there to see this once in a lifetime event, I'm stuck in the hire centre in Braintree and feeling as sick as a pig as I'm going to miss it.

[Smiffy49 590]

Thanks for posting that, I live right under the flight path (Waddington to Cranwell) near Temple Bruer, so will have a look.

Also saw the Typhoons scramble from Coningsby last week to intercept the Manchester flight (although this is a daily event around here)

Smiffy

[Adrian Adams 17]

My dad Steve Adams flew Lancasters from Waddington. Shot down in July 44? Must look it up. I have the plane number, and the mission - to blow up a rail tunnel entrance holding munitions. He was one of two who managed to bail out and survive. He was helped, sheltered by Maquis who gave him fake ID , I still have it, He had blonde hair though , used a lot of BMW bikes then, stolen from Germans. Have pictures of bikes and his log book, but pages torn out , probably RAAF intel, . Trained in Canada where more people died than in combat.

[Michael Booth 7,364]

Interesting stuff, Adrian Adams. It would be good if you'd download the photos etc in the WW2 section on Nottstalgia.

[firbeck 859]

Try this website:- www.flightradar24.com my crap work computer has seized up, but from what I can see, it's currently approaching the Northern Scottish coast, presumably it's flying straight on down to Lincs, call sign is CGVRA on this site, click on the appropriate aircraft symbols to find which one it is, the jet's are obvious. Watch all the aircraft flying about and you'll get to understand the complexities of air traffic control!

Incidentally, my great uncle Noel won the DFC nursing back a seriously damaged Lancaster from a bombing raid on Germany in 1943.

Adrian, sounds like the 617 mission to bomb the Saumur tunnels with 'Tallboys' to prevent the SS Panzer Division, 'Das Reich' from getting to the Normanday invasion beaches.

[firbeck 859]

The Canadian Lancaster is currently west of Inverness heading south, could be on time.

[LizzieM 9,507]

Wish I'd read this earlier Firbeck, we would have headed over that way to see it all happening but not enough time to get there now. We'll have to make do with TV coverage. I did find the Canadian Lancaster on a different website I have installed on this iPad, PlanefinderHD, thanks for the call-sign!

[firbeck 859]

Lancaster now approaching Dundee, altitude 6700ft, speed 163 knots, not sure whether he'll be on time for the big meet up, who knows.

[firbeck 859]

Now heading south to the east of Edinburgh, same track, altitude and speed, I wish I was the rich man in the cockpit whose paid £43000 for the privelige of taking part in this.

Edinburgh to Lincoln, what do you reckon, 300 miles, at that speed he's going to be well late.

[plantfit 7,580]

Thanks Pete, already there mate and looking out of the office window, not seen anything as yet, Coningsby and Woodhall Spa is decked out with Canadian and British flags, real party atmosphere

Rog

[plantfit 7,580]

It's just landed at Coningsby 1405hrs, tried to get a picture but it's pi$$ing it down here at the moment and the picture is all misty,Film crew hovering above airfield in helicopter so should be some good pics on the news tonight

Rog

[Smiffy49 590]

A couple of Typhoons went over my house earlier, but this is a regular event.

Big thunderstorm here ! Weather reports caused the other aircraft to be grounded, but the Lanc got through at just after 2pm.

Brightening up now though.

Smiffy

[firbeck 859]

Couldn't keep track, been having problems with the arseholes that employ me. Great to know it's landed safely, I'll have to surf around and find a relavant TV/website that shows what happened when I get home from this shithole.

[Rob.L 1,088]

From my mate...

[darkazana 1,736]

Red arrows flew over our house at 14.00, though much of the expected show had been cancelled due to the weather, my daughter at Scampton tells me.

The Lancasters will be on public display at Coningsby for the next month or so, for which tickets are available

[catfan 14,793]

Eeya............http://www.lincolnshireecho.co.uk/Canadian-Lancaster-crew-speak-joy-landing/story-22275830-detail/story.html

[darkazana 1,736]

#7 Lizzie, I mentioned about this yesterday but on another thread - how's your day - sorry should have flagged up it's own thread. Was going to go over to my daughters at Scampton but she said the main event had been cancelled due to the weather, though as I said above we had 8 Red arrows come overhead here at Besthorpe at around 2.

[LizzieM 9,507]

I love to see the Red Arrows, wish I lived in Lincs! Seems there won't even be much to see if it's on the news tonight though.

[Bilbraborn 1,594]

Think you are fed up Pete. I was working at Newark until gone 3pm. No way I could get out. So near and yet..............

[Trevor S 2,003]

At times like this, you miss those fantastic photographs of aircraft posted by a departed member.

I am sure that his photos of the Lancasters, both in flight and on the ground, would have been something to treasure.

[Adrian Adams 17]

Incidentally, my great uncle Noel won the DFC nursing back a seriously damaged Lancaster from a bombing raid on Germany in 1943.

Adrian, sounds like the 617 mission to bomb the Saumur tunnels with 'Tallboys' to prevent the SS Panzer Division, 'Das Reich' from getting to the Normanday invasion beaches.

This are the details of the plane from one book -

467 Squadron Lancaster LM219 PO-G crashed near Saint Germer de Fly. Hit by fighter aircraft the Lancaster crashed at ‘Le Grand Montagny’ only two crew managed to jump and escape.

F/L Robert W. Reynolds RAF (+), P/O John D. O’Driscoll (RNZAF) (+), Sgt Ronald J.Taylor (+), F/S Horace A. Cummins RAAF (+), F/S L.Jimmy G.Walsh RAAF (escaped), Stephen S.Adams RAAF (escaped), Sgt Gordon T. Tipping RAF (+), F/S Gilbert G. Podosky RAAF (+)

Capt Bonham-Carter was Leader, my mother would have tea with him and his wife. She said he was lovely , kind man.

[darkazana 1,736]

One Lancaster spotted over Poolsbrook, Staveley this afternoon

[Fynger 841]

These are the guys that flew the Canadian Lancaster into Conningsby yesterday. Having lunch at the Blue Bell.

[firbeck 859]

For anybody wanting to know more about the visit of this Lancaster and what events are planned, go on to the Flypast forum Historic aviation site, google it and it will come up. You will see that the first thread in the list is Canadian Warplane Heritage-Lancaster-2014. This thread will give you all the information you need about flights etc over the coming weeks, I've been following it since the anouncement back in February, there's also some pics of C-GVRA undergoing maintenance in the BBMF Conningsby hangar, oh, you don't have to be a member to read the threads and information on the site. It's also worth checking the BBMF site to see whats going on. I gather that once the maintenance is completed, that the two Lancs will carry out formation practice flights from Conningsby, don't forget that the Canadian Lanc is civilian owned and flown, the BBMF Lanc is operated by the RAF by currently serving pilots, the Canadians are really in top professional hands here.

It looks like the first mission could be to Biggin Hill next Thursday, despite living miles away in Braintree, I'm lucky to be on one of the vintage aircraft routes set to avoid Stansted, I get to see our BBMF Lanc on a regular basis, probably more than most, he really likes to make the ground shake over the allotment. I shall be working over at the cycle centre on Thursday (AGAIN) and we are right under the transit route to Biggin, will bring camera with me.

They're both doing the Clacton Airshow in a couple of weeks, can't wait.

Re Clacton, it looks like the BBMF, Canadian Lanc and Avro Vulcan will be doing a combined flypast on Thursday 21st August, it's being billed as a 'Lifetime Event' I shall be there, Vulcan with Lancasters on each wingtip with Hurricane and Spitfire thrown in, all over the sea too, unbelievable, I've just booked someone in to cover for me that day.

[firbeck 859]

For anyone in the area and that refers to you in particular Rog, the two Lancs are to practice formation flying around Coningsby today, weather permitting and it's as windy as hell down here, keeping close formation in those big beasts in this wind must be difficult.