With the dark nights drawing in it might seem that the possibilities for doing something ‘different’ or ‘special’ in the remainder of 2010 are quite remote. However, having made my first visit to East Kirby last year to witness the sight, sound and smell of the Lancaster by night, the 2009 event was quickly booked in as part of my aviation calendar. This year’s night taxi run was part of a bigger event for the Lincolnshire Aviation Heritage Centre, themed as a Halloween and Fireworks spectacular which attracted a healthy crowd to the former World War Two airfield, not far from RAF Coningsby, home to the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight’s airworthy example. A number of attractions were part of an event mainly aimed at the family audience; but a healthy sprinkling of like-minded enthusiasts were also present, out to capture the unique perspective of the Lancaster by night on an authentic WW2 airfield.
Built at Longbridge near Birmingham in 1945 by Austin Motors, Avro Lancaster 683 VII did not actually see service during the Second World War. Originally destined for duty as part of the RAF’s Tiger Force in the Far East, Japan’s early surrender saw her surplus to requirements and ultimately storage at Llandow from where, in 1952, she was purchased by the French Government and saw service as a maritime patrol aircraft with the French Naval Air Arm. A decade later she was to be found in Noumeau, New Caledonia, operating as an air sea rescue platform and cartography aircraft. In 1964 the French presented her to the Historical Aircraft Preservation Society and flew her to a new home in Sydney where she was thoroughly overhauled and flown back to Britain, touching down at Biggin Hill on 13th May 1965. After a few fleeting public appearances the aircraft was flown to Lavenham in Suffolk and in 1972 was put up for auction in Blackpool.
Lincolnshire farmers Fred and Harold Panton were alerted to the auction as they sought to commemorate the death of their brother who tragically died in an air raid over Nuremburg in 1944. Being co-owners of their own farm and purchasing additional land, including part of the now defunct East Kirby airfield, they had the space to fulfil their dream; though they missed out on the Lancaster at this point as the aircraft failed to reach its reserve price and was privately sold. The brothers were however able to keep in touch with the new owner, the Rt Hon Lord Lilford. Eventually they were able to strike a deal for the airframe and, after an allotted period of ten years as the gate guardian at nearby RAF Scampton, she was transported by the RAF to East Kirby. Though the engines had been silent for 22 years, RAF engineers were confident they could be brought back to life and after around 700 man hours and £7,000 the No.3 engine spun once more.
‘Just Jane’ as she is known is the centre piece of the East Kirby museum. The centre opened in 1988 and is rightly proud of its progress to date, receiving no lottery grants or other public funding. The control tower is the original from WW2 and the site of the hangar where the Lancaster shelters is built on the spot of its wartime equivalent. The on-site museum is themed around Bomber Command and documents many aspects of wartime Britain, including the Home Front and Escape and Evasion. One of the unique attractions is the chance to taxi in the aircraft itself giving a unique insight into the lives of the courageous crews who fought so bravely decades ago.
The night time taxi run was scheduled for 6pm and shortly before that the ground crew began to ensure the gathered crowd were out of harm’s way, including those who, like me, had taken residence behind the aircraft. The lucky winners of the raffle competition to win a taxi ride in the aircraft were ushered on board and one by one the Rolls Royce Merlin engines spluttered into life, the sound reverberating around the compact venue. Slowly the legendary bomber moved forward momentarily being shrouded in darkness before reappearing - now facing the right way as far as I was concerned! Once the aircraft was stationery again the engines were subjected to variations in power; first idling and then growling towards full power. As the shots being taken required long exposures it was nice for a change not be totally engaged behind the viewfinder and just appreciate the sound and sight in front of me. After more than enough time for the public to appreciate the scene she was shut down and quickly towed away back into the hangar, away from any stray fireworks which were to come later.
The opportunity to witness a 'live' taxiing Lancaster in this sort of environment doesn’t come along every day. The centre aims to be a memorial to the 55,500 men of Bomber Command who perished during WW2 and to see the Lancaster taxiing at night is as evocative and atmospheric tribute as you could wish for.
GAR wants to interact with its readers so if you have a question for the author or a comment to make on this feature, please click on the button below. The best comments will appear right here on GAR.2010-02-28 - Rob Howe
Fantastic article and very well written. Hope to make a few trips to see this for myself this year, I was wondering if you could put camera make and model in your articles along with exif data, some of us budding aviation photographers would appreciate some info on shutter speeds and iso rates to give us some idea of what to use when we do this sort of thing. Have added this site to my faves having just found it by accident.
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