Hi CookieVivienne, I can understand you Dad's disappointment, he obviously loved flying as I did, I also was 'grounded' after developing a weak right eye (very strict on medical fitness), so I left the RAF after 8 years, mind you both the wireless operators and flight engineer's posts were becoming obsolete due to high tech replacing them. I flew on various other a/c including Sunderland flying boats in Singapore but the 'Lanc' was always my favourite and I think most other crew members think that way, especially those who like me only flew in peace time. Eric
Hi EricShirley, they have to have an Airworthy Certificate, and although they may look complete, they could need a lot of time and money to become airworthy, corrosion could be a major problem, that is why there are only 2 in the world flying, one here and the other in your country. They are attempting to make a third airworthy in this country at a cost of £3 1/2 million pounds, a lot of money plus future running costs, hanger fees annual Airworthy Certificates, The money is being raised through collections, I donated a tenner in memory of my happy times with them way back in '49/51 (I'm 87 in June) It's probably pure nostalgia but so what! Eric
That was my Dad's intention Eric. He loved flying and it'd been his ambition from a very early age as a young child. He luckily survived the war, but on a training exercise off the Scottish coast his Lancaster went down in the North Sea - thankfully all survived. Despite going through the horrors of war and the post-war accident he still wanted to stay in the RAF, but he was retired out on medical grounds after the accident. It was his life but sadly he had to give it up.
Incidently the AVRO Lancaster is still down there in the North Sea and is listed in Scottish memorials Viv.
You are very welcome Eric. I actually met the woman that manages the museum that houses the Lancaster bomber in Hamilton Canada. No surprise that she is from the Birmingham area...Thanks Very Much Dave, for that short film ! It revived old memories (and I have to admit the odd tear). It's 65 years now but that brought it all back. Thanks again. Eric
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Dave M Your 2nd pic shows what looks like a Hawker Hurricane, always pushed to the back by the Spitfire and yet it was a very successful and efficient fighter in early part of war. Incidentally , where were those pics taken, I realise it's not the Memorial Flight Lanc and just a static display a/c and were those 2 gentlemen ex aircrew reliving the past or just interested visitors. Eric