Now here's a treat : -

http://www.pa474.f9.co.uk/html/pa474_-_tour.html

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"Stand by to pull me out of the seat if I get hit" - Guy Gibson

Cool Martin,

I'm gonna be sure to check out the virtual tour later this week. I'm so busy right now lol.

Greg [img]smile.gif[/img]

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"There are times when a Corps Commander's life does not count"
-General Winfield Scott Hancock at Gettysburg, July 3, 1863

these guys - the association - have really spent some hard earned time and monies for this beautiful a/c. Good show Martin !

~E~

Cool and very interesting site.

Thanks a lot!

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Well, they have the support of a struggling corporation called the British Government !

The BBMF is one of the very few things that my taxes are spent on that I actually think is totally worthwhile.....

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"Stand by to pull me out of the seat if I get hit" - Guy Gibson

So Martin am I understanding you correct then, are you a member of this association listed ?

E

Yep - Lincolnshire's Lancaster Association is the 'supporter's arm' of the BBMF and for sure I'm a member, along with, errr...let's see, the Bomber Command Association, Mosquito Aircrew Association, Friends of B17 'Sally B', Thorpe Abbotts Tower Association, East Kirkby Museum Association, Friends Of Metheringham Airfield..............

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"Stand by to pull me out of the seat if I get hit" - Guy Gibson

ok, ok , don't rub it in friend ! good for you ! Say don't want to pollute this thread but did the Mossie organization ever put out a book let on the Mossie NF's ?

E

No, they haven't.

Apart from a few first-hand accounts ( such as Jeremy Howard Williams' 'Night Intruder' ) Mosquito NF information is not easy to find.

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"Stand by to pull me out of the seat if I get hit" - Guy Gibson

Thanks Martin.......this is indeed very strange. Am only familiar with the 100th group book at that is it. Wish someone would get off their bum and write one up or at least a small booklet on missions with a few colour profiles and at least 50 pics of the differnetn squadrons. Ya know if I had access to this kind of materials I would seriously think of something along the lines of a RAF Mossie intruder book through Osprey. Maybe I need to send them a note. They have the recon/bomber book and that is it. Think it is all very much neglected....my two big cents

~E~

That is a good cockpit picture and look at the size of the armor plate for the pilot! I wonder how much it weighed and how large a bullet it was supposed to stop.
Do you know how much per hour does it cost the flight to operate the Lancaster?

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Work Harder ! Millions on welfare are depending on you.

The armour plate was quarter-inch and OK I think for rifle-calibre bullets, but as for 20mm - forget it. Oddly enough I have never read any first-hand account which refers to 'hits' on the pilot's armourplate.

I have no idea how much it costs to keep the Lanc' flying - probably difficult to extrapolate because maintenance of the entire flight is constant and is done by serving RAF personnel.

Rumours surface regularly from Government 'bean-counters' about cutting the Flight to save money, and every time there is an uproar. I think that even the Government have realised that it would be considered similar to demolishing the Tower of London to make way for a drive-thru' McDonalds.....

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"Stand by to pull me out of the seat if I get hit" - Guy Gibson

Very amazing, Martin! Have you got any idea of how many Lancasters are still flying in Great Britain nowadays? It would be fine that they could make a new journey to some German city. How would the people's face look like?

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"War is less costly than servitude, the choice is always between Verdun and Dachau." - Jean Dutourd, French veteran of both world wars

"A mon fils: depuis que tes yeux sont fermes les miens n’ont cessé de pleurir." - Mère française, Verdun

Nice site-Impressive list of credentials there too Martin!!!

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"GARRY OWEN"-Traditional war-cry of the US 7th Cavalry.
"CURRAHEE"-War-cry of the US 506th PIR.
"Everybody thinks that they are going to get the chance to punch some Nazi in the face at Normandy-and those days are over, they are long gone"-Lt Chris Burnett

Friedrich, just one left flying - the one in the link, PA474 of the Battle of Britain memorial Flight. Plus one in taxying condition ( NX611 at East Kirkby ).

The only BBMF aircraft to regularly appear on the Continent is the Dakota for Arnhem.

Obviously, the BBMF are very sensitive about how the Lancaster could be viewed. For sure, on the UK airshow circuit, it is one of the absolute crowd 'favourites'

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"Stand by to pull me out of the seat if I get hit" - Guy Gibson

Thanks, Martin! I must be interesting to see it flying! I remember this lovely photograph in which a Lancaster is flying, escorted by a Spitfire and a Hurricane. The three planes that made Great Britain win the war.

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"War is less costly than servitude, the choice is always between Verdun and Dachau." - Jean Dutourd, French veteran of both world wars

"A mon fils: depuis que tes yeux sont fermes les miens n’ont cessé de pleurir." - Mère française, Verdun