CrisPDuk

It looks more like a Stirling to me IIRC Wellingtons only had two engines, plus the lattice framework of their fuselages was evident through the skin

The Zohan

LOL!

The pictures are of two different places, the top is obviously a Lanc, the second one is a Wellington, Mk2 at a guess.


Sorry mate, Short Stirling it is not, it is a Wellington. the Geodeticc framework (as designed by Barnes-Wallis) is not visible on the cockpit and bomb aimers section, only past the wing roots.


A Stirling is a 4 engined bomber (similar size to a Lanc), with 4 engines, not two. The wings (in pic 2) are just too short on the picture shown. The canopy and nose section is completely different to a Stirling!


Short Stirling it is not, Wellington it is.



Google Image Result for http://www.jaapteeuwen.com/ww2aircraft/pictures/jpg/vickers%20wellington.jpg

Stirling Bomber


I'll get my anorak

CrisPDuk

I stand corrected on the second photo

Obviously the two exterior shots are not of the same aircraft, because there are definitely 4 three bladed props on the first shot

The Zohan

I have a copule of books (of a series) called Lancaster at War and Wellington at War, which are packed full of the development of the aircraft, along with interviews and acounts by the crews that serviced and flew them. Both books are cracking reads and full of hair raising stuff like one crew member who climbed out onto the wing of his crippled Wellington to put out a fire before it destroyed the wing, at 12,ooo feet over mainland Europe with his parachute (as it was too cumbersome).

davegtt

WTF????

Leslie

They have rebuilt a Wellington at the Brooklands Museum near Weybridge. I think it was recovered from a Norwegian loch. They have rebuilt all the fuselage exactly as per the original design and left it uncovered so that you can see the very clever geodetic construction designed by Barnes-Wallis.

Well worth a visit.

Les

DCI Gene Hunt

New York out the back of Coningsby, not New York ala Septic-ville or in my new found nerdy capacity... New, New York as seen on Dr Who

davegtt

Ahh, Im a little further afield unfortunately but do seem to see alot of flights where I am

Leslie

I have seen that sign to New York many times when I was driving around the area from Waddington. Always wondered about that.

Les

DCI Gene Hunt

The old Bluebell pub outside Tattershall/Coningsby is the place to go, used to be home to the Dambuster lads... still pretty original inside

swampster

iTrader: (1)

There's also the Thorpe Camp visitor centre a short walk (400 yds or so) up from the Blue Bell, situated within the old accommodation blocks for 617 SQN's groundcrew based at RAF Woodhall Spa. As you are walking up looking into the woods on the left you can see the older derelict huts.

DCI Gene Hunt

You seem to know the area well

swampster

iTrader: (1)

Intimately

DCI Gene Hunt

So you'll know that the Tatershall post office doesn't tax cars then

The Zohan

Is this some sort of code or chat up line from your part of the world?

Northampton long past this – “suppose a **** is out of the question” is considered sophisticated/de rigeur and usually get's the right result!

DCI Gene Hunt

......>>>SHOCKED<<<


No, its a type of .... "I don't think you do live there" type of thing so I'll test how well you know the area...



Unless 'swampster' is female with large **** then the above suggestion by Paul applies

FLAT ERIC

iTrader: (1)

As a tribute to their eldest brother Christopher Whitton Panton, who was shot down and killed on a bomber raid over Nuremberg on 30th/31st March 1944, my dad donated to the museum the log & chart that he made for that same raid. They are on display in the "Naafi" building at East Kirkby.

By way of thanks Fred and Harold Panton invited my dad & I to climb aboard & have a look around Just Jane before the museum opened for the day. What an eerie silence inside such a huge destructive machine that normally would have been full of noise & bedlam. It smelt oily & musty & creaked as you made your way around inside, dark & cramped.

The main spar for the wings cuts through the fuselage & restricts the access from front to rear. Imagine trying to get to the rear door in a hurry with the aircraft diving or being shaken around. Clambering over the padded spar through the arched opening. Praying that your chute hadn't been torn by shrapnel.



I managed to squeeze into the rear gunner's turret & close the doors behind me. It was so claustrophobic & you felt so cut off from the rest of the aircraft. The rear gunner had the worst life expectancy of any of the crew as the night fighters would try & take them out first & then pick off the aircraft from below & behind.

Ironically the only surviving member of dad's old crew is the rear gunner (far right).





Once we had had a good look around they wheeled Just Jane out ready for the museum opening when they were going to do a full engine run. I don't know who was clinging on to who when they fired up all four Merlins but it was an emotional experience for my dad.



Mark

The Zohan

Great post, thanks for sharing the experiences

Have a hunt around for a copy of Lancaster at War, it is a real good read. My copy must be some 20 years old, it you cannt find one and would like a read then PM me and i will gladly send you my copy (on loan)

CrisPDuk

Just had a look at the Brooklands Wimpey on t'internet, very impressive Apparently they fished it out of Loch Ness

The aircraft recovered from the Norwegian lake was a Halifax, which now resides, in as found condition, at the RAF's museum in Hendon
The Canadians also have a Halifax that was found in Norwegian waters, they restored theirs

ScoobyJawa

Top post FLAT ERIC

Billgtt

I work about a minute from Brooklands. I used to go to a lot of MG Owners Club events there with my dad back when I was a kid and they'd just started work on the Wellington. I saw nearly the whole restoration apart from the final year or so, and I still haven't seen it since it's been completed. I keep saying i'll go down there but I haven't.

The Zohan

I think they made a TV programme about the Wellington reocvery some 10+ years ago.

Would love to see the H-P Halifax.

Hendon is a great Museum, My old mans Irving Flying Jacket is is the museum on display complete with the sticking plaster over a bullet hole from a tustle with an ME109 in it - good job it wasn't a 20mm canon shell!. His life was saved by his cigarette case which took the impact of the round. The cigarette case was given to him by a grateful supplier from before the war - Daimler-Benz!

He flew for costal comand mostly in Scotland - Wellingtons then onto Beaufighters and then finally Lysanders for SOE. Sadly he died some 22 years ago and all i have are a few photos. He split from my mum when i was young and i never got to ask him about his experiences.

swampster

iTrader: (1)

Actually can't remember Tattershall having a post office to be honest, used to use the one in Coningsby.


Unfortunately, I no longer live in the area moved away back to my native part of the country in 2002 after leaving the mob, although I do still pay a visit every now and then when I fancy a good drive out.. it's only an hour or so away

And whilst I might have ****.. I'm certainly not female

DCI Gene Hunt

......moobs

Brun

I was driving through Newark on Saturday and nearly filled my trousers when it flew straight overhead at maybe 200ft before banking sharp to the right. What a sound

Scoob99

iTrader: (1)

Thanks Mark,
That is a great picture, I bet your dad was very emotional, In June I am going up to Lincoln to visit my Uncle Harrys sqaudron base as he and I shared the same birthday and to put some flowers there in his memory.
Cheers
Colin

FLAT ERIC

iTrader: (1)

I am sure your uncle Harry would be pleased to have you visit his old base.That's a nice gesture.

Colin if you get time do try & get to the museum at East Kirkby. It's only about 30 miles from Lincoln & well worth a detour.

This trip down memory lane has unearthed a few more pictures.

This of the single pilot seat & control column in "Just Jane". Dials in front are for air speed, altitude, rate of climb & rate of turn. Bottom centre of pic are throttle & propeller controls. Right hand bank of instruments are RPM & Supercharger boost gauges. The shrouded red buttons are to feather the engines (stops the propeller spinning & generating drag when an engine is shut down).



Inscription on a bench in Ludford Magna. (Click on pic to enlarge)



All that's left of dad's old "A" flight dispersal point. The dark overgrown area to the right is said to be a crater where a fully fuel laden Lanc blew up whilst being bombed up. I just can't imagine how crews must have felt having to taxi past that night after night.



On a lighter note. One dispersal point was conveniently behind the "Black Horse" & the pub is still there with pictures of crew partaking of the local brew with their Lancaster parked in the background. Hopefully after their flight.

Mark

swampster

iTrader: (1)

I've just quickly created a Google Earth placemark file that some of you may find interesting.

It's a a brief whistle stop tour of most things RAF/Dambusters related.. it's by no means all encompassing but includes most of the main spots, and some other related bits of info.

It starts off at RAF Coningsby, but the folder can be expanded and includes a dozen or so other POI's.

Anyway if anyone wants to take a peek it can be had from:
http://www.swampster.co.uk/stuff/RAF_Coningsby.kmz - Edited to add Norton Disney

Enjoy

Oh just found this site if anyone is interested.. great reference to all things RAF related in Lincs. RAF-lincolnshire.info :: the home of Royal Air Force and airfield history in Lincolnshire

CrisPDuk

The Hendon Halifax being raised. Pic courtesy of Wikipedia



So the urban myth has a firm foundation in truth then

The Zohan

Thanks for the picture, may well be an urban myth, one of thise stories told to me by me old ma when i was a kid!

The jacket is in the RAF museum Hendon, or at least was, my older sister donated it when he died