Walking in the footsteps of heroes
We are extremely pleased to be bringing you the latest edition of Aerodrome and our regular look at the fascinating world of aviation. Unfortunately for UK aviation enthusiasts, we have to accept the sad fact that the end of the 2016 Airshow season is fast approaching and last weekend’s events at Duxford and Southport were the last shows that many of us will be attending this year. The coming months will see us sulking through the long winter nights, sifting through our photographs from this year and looking longingly at our 2017 diaries, desperate for the new Airshow season to begin. I was present at both days of the Duxford ‘Meet the Fighters’ show and will be producing a report for inclusion in a future edition of Aerodrome. If any of our readers went to the Southport show, please do let us have your photographs, so we can share them with fellow Aerodrome readers.
In this week’s edition, we are going to be looking back at one of the smaller events from the 2016 Airshow calendar, but one which proved to be amongst the most enjoyable of the year. We have a report from a sunny and extremely well attended East Kirkby Airshow, which was memorable for a number of reasons, not least of which was the fact that it marked the long awaited return of the much loved BBMF Avro Lancaster to the display circuit, after something of a troubled year. It was so good to see her back where she belongs and it was fitting that East Kirkby played host to her first Airshow appearance of 2016.
Lancaster tribute to a beloved brother
East Kirkby is a former Bomber Command Lancaster base
Having attended hundreds of Airshows and aviation related events over the years, I have to say that many of the occasions tend to have something of an impersonal feel about them. Of course, it is great to be allowed close to the aircraft and aviation personalities that inspire us so much, but perhaps the military nature of many of these events make it more difficult for enthusiasts to make a connection. It is probably for this reason that some of the smaller aviation venues appear to be gaining in popularity over the past few seasons, particularly as they allow attendees to feel much more involved in the day itself. Once enthusiasts have discovered such an event, they tend to favour it above many of the larger, more established Airshows and loyally support it in the future, perhaps using it to introduce other less passionate members of their family to the delights of aviation. One location that can certainly provide that special connection to Britain’s aviation heritage is the former Bomber Command station at East Kirkby and their latest Airshow proved to be a spectacular success, both in terms of aircraft participation and in the size of the sell-out crowd.
The Bomber Command airfield at East Kirkby opened in August 1943 and was home to the Avro Lancasters of Nos. 57 and 630 Squadrons. During the latter stages of WWII, East Kirkby Lancasters were used on 212 operational raids against enemy targets, with 121 aircraft and their crews failing to return – a further 29 Lancasters were lost due to operational crashes, or accidents. One such accident occurred on the night of 17th April 1945, when a 57 Squadron Lancaster was being bombed up in preparation for the latest raid – as the bombs were being armed and winched into the bomb bay of the Lancaster, a fused 1,000lb bomb dropped to the ground and exploded. The blast ignited the rest of the aircraft’s bombs, setting off a chain-reaction of explosions amongst the other Lancasters parked nearby. Three airmen were to tragically lose their lives in the explosions, with a further 14 suffering injury. At least five aircraft were destroyed, with many others sustaining damage on a night that illustrated just how dangerous a place a wartime airfield could be and how the invaluable work of ground crews and armourers is deserving of much greater recognition.
A visit to East Kirkby is very much stepping back in the footsteps of heroes
It is hoped that ‘Just Jane’ will fly out of East Kirkby in the near future
East Kirkby airfield was to see limited use in the years following the end of WWII, it was soon deemed surplus to requirements and sold off by the government in 1964, and quickly reverted back to farmland. The site still retains the original control tower and many of the outbuildings that were in place during the airfield's wartime service – indeed, the control tower is said to be haunted and featured in the paranormal investigation programme Most Haunted in 2003.
Owned by a farming family, the site is now home to the Lincolnshire Aviation Heritage Centre and houses an impressive collection of artefacts, memorabilia and aircraft which are all set in the backdrop of a preserved WWII RAF bomber station. A visit to the museum at East Kirkby is like stepping back in time and can be an emotional experience for anyone with links to Bomber Command operations during the Second World War.
The museum was established by two local farming brothers, who wanted to preserve the site as a memorial to the men of Bomber Command, but more specifically as a tribute to their eldest brother Christopher Whitton Panton, who was shot down on a bombing raid over Nuremberg in the early hours of 31st March 1944. He was serving as flight engineer on a No.433 Squadron (RCAF) Handley Page Halifax B.III, which was operating out of Skipton-on-Swale in North Yorkshire for the raid to Nuremberg, when it was believed to have been shot down by a marauding Luftwaffe Bf 110 Nightfighter. Five of the crew, including Chris Panton, tragically lost their lives in the resulting crash, with the remaining members taken prisoner by the Germans.
Pictures of Christopher Whitton Panton - © Lincolnshire Aviation Heritage Centre
Central to the Heritage Centre at East Kirkby and perhaps the most poignant tribute to Christopher Panton and the men of Bomber Command is Avro Lancaster B Mk.VII NX611 ‘Just Jane’, which was purchased by the Panton Brothers in 1983, with the initial intention of being a private, if treasured memorial to their brother. When they bought the aircraft, it was serving as Gate Guardian at RAF Scampton and as the existing arrangement required that the Lancaster serve ten years in this role, it would be a further four years before it could be moved to its new home at East Kirkby. This gave the brothers ample opportunity to construct a hangar on the site of an original wartime T2 hangar and continue the renovation of the existing airfield buildings. As East Kirkby was a former Lancaster base, it seemed somehow fitting that NX611 would become the centrepiece of their tribute.
Tribute to a beloved brother - Avro Lancaster ‘Just Jane’ at East Kirkby
East Kirkby reverberates to the sound of Merlin engines
As the brothers began to reassemble and renovate their new bomber, they became determined that this should not simply be a static museum piece, but this impressive aircraft would once again fill the East Kirkby air with the sound of Merlin engines. As the work progressed, they were also encouraged to consider allowing members of the public to experience this magnificent aircraft, set in the historic surroundings of this genuine former Bomber Command airfield and in 1988, the Lincolnshire Aviation Heritage Centre opened its doors for the very first time. Over the years, many former aircrew and their families have made the journey to East Kirkby, with most finding the experience both memorable and extremely emotional, bringing back memories of their wartime service, or allowing family members to gain a unique insight in to what they once did. The fact that visitors are allowed to experience this in an extremely relaxed atmosphere ensures that people are left with a lasting impression of the museum and are always keen to make regular visits in the future.
‘Just Jane’ in all her glory – one of the most popular historic aircraft in Europe
Without doubt, Avro Lancaster NX611 ‘Just Jane’ is the star attraction at East Kirkby and this magnificent aircraft can now count on the support of an army of loyal supporters, many of which would not usually describe themselves as aviation enthusiasts – they are Just Jane lovers. The aircraft is in excellent condition and has four working Merlin engines, which allows Jane to be kept in taxiing condition and even allow members of the public to experience a ride in an Avro Lancaster, on the grass airstrip at East Kirkby. In a relatively recent development, it is reported that the Panton family intend to return NX611 to flying condition and operate a Lancaster from this former Bomber Command airstrip once more. Unfortunately, this is a monumental task, which will require huge amounts of money and as the Lincolnshire Aviation Heritage Centre is a privately owned and funded museum, they are going to need all the support they can get. If you are ever in the vicinity of the airfield at East Kirkby, or have not made a visit for some time, please do call and lend your support, as I know this will be very much appreciated by the team behind this historic project.
A salute to Avro’s finest
Escort for an Airshow favourite - the BBMF Lancaster in formation with one of the flight’s Spitfires
The annual East Kirkby Airshow offers the aviation enthusiast the opportunity to see some of the country’s best loved aviation acts in the surroundings of a former RAF Bomber Command station and as a relatively small venue, allows for a much more intimate experience. One of the highlights of any show are the taxi runs performed by the resident Lancaster ‘Just Jane’, but this year’s show offered the opportunity of seeing two Avro Lancasters operating under the power of their own Merlin engines, on or over the same airfield. Although this aviation spectacle has been witnessed at East Kirkby before, this year’s show would be the first time that most people would have seen the much loved Battle of Britain Memorial Flight Lancaster PA474 in the air for almost two years and would signal the return to display flying of the only airworthy Lancaster in Europe. The chance of seeing two Lancasters in the same afternoon was one of the main attractions of this year’s show and an encouraging weather forecast assured that it was going to be extremely well attended.
As Britain’s most famous bomber and one of the most effective aircraft of its type to ever take to the skies, BBMF Lancaster PA474 is one of only two airworthy examples to be found anywhere in the world. It joined the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight in November 1973 and instantly became one of the most popular aircraft on the UK Airshow scene and a fitting tribute to the airmen of Bomber Command. Over the years, the aircraft has been continuously restored in an attempt to bring her to as authentic a wartime configuration as possible and benefits from huge support from a number of organisations who raise funds and donate genuine and extremely rare components, determined to see the aircraft presented accurately as a WWII Lancaster. The aircraft also serves to educate and commemorate the sacrifices of Bomber Command aircrews during WWII and the close association these airmen and their mighty machines had with the county of Lincolnshire.
The return of Avro Lancaster PA474 was a highlight of the 2016 show
The aircraft is currently wearing the colours of Avro Lancaster DV385 ‘Thumper Mk.III’, which was delivered new to the famous RAF No.617 Squadron as a replacement aircraft following the famous ‘Dambusters’ raid of 1943. Coded KC-A, this Lancaster was a standard built machine, which arrived with 617 Squadron at Coningsby in November 1943 and went on to complete 50 operational missions, 15 of which included dropping the huge ‘Tallboy’ earthquake bomb. Whilst with 617 Squadron, the aircraft was given rather distinctive nose artwork, which not only featured the current mission tally of DV385, but also ‘Thumper’ the rabbit, from the Disney cartoon Bambi, although this particular rabbit was holding a pint of foaming beer.
The BBMF Lancaster was jointly responsible for a huge surge of interest in historic aviation during the latter part of the 2014 Airshow season, as she was joined by the world’s only other flying Lancaster for a brief, but extremely memorable tour of the UK. Avro Lancaster Mk.X FM213 of the Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum, based at Hamilton Airport in Canada, was flown over to the UK for a short tour and a meeting of Lancasters that captivated the UK for six weeks during August and September. With huge crowds flocking to see this spectacle at every venue they were due to perform, this was the first time that two Lancasters had been flown together in over 50 years and it received extensive media coverage. We included a review of ‘One summer, two Lancasters’ in the 39th edition of Aerodrome.
The BBMF will be hoping for better luck with their Lancaster in future
The return of the Canadian Lancaster to its home base on 23rd September 2014 more or less coincided with the end of the Airshow season and the winter maintenance period for the BBMF – little did we know that it would be many months before we would see ‘Thumper Mk.III’ back on the display circuit. In May 2015, as the Lancaster was working up to obtaining its display authorisation, PA474 suffered an in-flight engine fire during a routine training flight and whilst the crew managed to bring their famous aircraft back home safely, the damage sustained would prove to be significant and would result in the aircraft missing the entire 2015 Airshow season. Unfortunately for the hard working engineers and technicians at the BBMF, niggling issues continued to hamper their preparations for the 2016 season and it was looking like we may have to endure two full display seasons without seeing the Avro Lancaster in the air. Fortunately, this did not prove to be the case and after the completion of all the necessary testing and certification work, Avro Lancaster ‘Thumper Mk.III’ triumphantly returned to the UK Airshow circuit at the East Kirkby Airshow, much to the delight of the sizeable crowd gathered on this former Bomber Command Lancaster station. It really was good to see her back in the air again and left us all hoping that one day, we might be lucky enough to see ‘Just Jane’ and the BBMF Lancaster flying together over East Kirkby.
Saviours from the air
The unmistakable profile of the Consolidated Catalina
One of the major benefits of attending an Airshow at the former East Kirkby airfield is the fact that a number of the display aircraft actually operate from this relatively small grass strip (although some of the original concrete runway still exists to the east of the airfield), which means that you can get quite close to some extremely historic aircraft. Many of the aircraft taking part are single engined machines, with famous Warbirds such as the P-51D Mustang being particularly popular with enthusiasts, but the 2016 show promised the opportunity of seeing two much larger WWII era aircraft being operated from the airfield and this was simply too good an opportunity to miss. One of the aircraft was the home based Douglas C-47A Skytrain ‘Drag-em-oot’, but we are going to focus on another famous twin engined USAAF aircraft from WWII, the unmistakable Consolidated PBY Catalina.
As far as UK based Warbirds are concerned, there can be few aircraft as unique and distinctive as the Consolidated Catalina, which also has to qualify as one of the unsung aviation heroes of the Second World War. Always an extremely popular Airshow display item, the Catalina is a surprisingly agile performer for such a large aircraft and the inclusion of the UK’s only airworthy example of this maritime aircraft would have been a draw for many in attendance at East Kirkby. Surely the aircraft would simply fly in for its display slot and would not be operating from the airfield itself? This would probably have been a question on the minds of many people as the gates opened just before 10am, but the sight of this huge white aeroplane at the far end of the airfield would have confirmed to everyone, if this could ever be in any doubt, that we were all in for an extremely memorable day.
The chance to see the Catalina close up was a highlight for many
Operating the impressive Catalina from the East Kirkby strip made for some unique photographic opportunities
The Catalina was a highly successful US flying boat and amphibious aircraft which served throughout WWII in many theatres of operation. Used by the US Navy, USAAF, Royal and Commonwealth Air Forces, the Catalina proved to be such an effective design that aircraft were still in service around the world many years after the end of the war, with around 3,300 aircraft being built. As a long range maritime patrol aircraft, the Catalina was an essential asset in a number of critical areas, including general naval patrols, anti-submarine operations, night intruder and autonomous shipping raider. Perhaps one of the Catalina’s most critical roles and the one in which it was held in such high regard was that of rescuing airmen forced to ditch their aircraft in the sea – a saviour from the air. As Allied air operations against Germany and enemy occupied Europe intensified, the potential for large numbers of Allied airmen to be lost in the English Channel, or in the vast expanses of the North Sea greatly intensified. Although the RAF and Royal Navy provided a highly efficient search and rescue service for Allied airmen, the arrival of large numbers of US aircraft and their crews to UK bases eventually led for calls to equip US units with an autonomous Search and Rescue capability, in the seas off the east coast of Britain. Initially, this essential task was performed by a number of war weary Republic P-47 Thunderbolts, which were adapted to carry dinghy packs and sea marking equipment. Eventually, these aircraft were replaced by a number of Consolidated OA-10A Catalinas, which were operated by the 5th Emergency Rescue Squadron, out of Halesworth in Suffolk.
The Catalina is an impressive performer for such a large aircraft
The Halesworth based Catalinas only managed to see service during the final months of WWII, but still managed to see plenty of action in the unforgiving waters of the North Sea. The aircraft on display at East Kirkby is wearing the livery of a famous USAAF 5th ERS Catalina, which was involved in a rescue attempt on 30th March 1945, which was to lead to its destruction at sea. Operating from its home base at Halesworth, Consolidated OA-10A Catalina 44-33915 ‘Miss Pick Up’ was scrambled to assist another Catalina that had been sent to rescue the crew of a downed B-24 Liberator in the North Sea, which had itself got into difficulties having landed on extremely rough seas. Managing to locate the other Catalina, ‘Miss Pick Up’ flew over the aircraft and provided rescue coordinates, until it was relieved by other aircraft and sent on to look for a P-51D Mustang pilot, who had been reported as ditching into the sea off the coast of the Dutch Island of Schiermonnikoog. With light fading and the US airman drifting ever closer to the enemy coastline, the Catalina sighted his distress flares and landed on rather heavy seas, as close to the Mustang pilot as they safely could. With the light fading fast, the crew could not locate the downed airmen in the gloom and discovered that they were unable to search for him, as the starboard engine had seized and they were adrift on heavy seas. They dropped the sea anchor, checked the hull of the aircraft for damage and settled down for an uncomfortable and sea sickness inducing wait – the pilot of the Mustang was eventually washed up on the shore and captured by German soldiers.
Displaying its distinctive maritime features, with wing-tip floats deployed
Early the following day, the crew sighted a number of Allied aircraft and launched distress flares to alert them of their position and for the rest of the morning, they were reassured by the presence of some fighter protection. At around midday and in a brief period without air cover, the damaged Catalina came under attack from a pair of Messerschmitt Me 262 jet fighters from JG.7 – making two strafing passes from out of the sun, the jets inflicted significant damage on the aircraft, which began to take on water and list heavily. Fortunately, a flight of Mustangs arrived in the nick of time and forced the Messerschmitts to break off their attack - importantly the crew of ‘Miss Pick Up’ had avoided injury during the attack and gathered anything useful together, before abandoning their quickly sinking aircraft. The crew reported that they could see a large tower on the land in the distance and felt that they must have been around six, or seven miles from the enemy coastline, from where sporadic flak fire would be sent in their direction. Eventually, a 5th ERS Boeing B-17 managed to drop a Higgins Airborne Lifeboat for the crew clinging to their dinghies, which was much more substantial and allowed them to set a course for home, eventually being picked up by a Royal Navy torpedo boat. Despite the positive outcome for the crew, they had been forced to endure a horrendous experience in the waters of the North Sea, having survived a concerted enemy attack by a pair of the most advanced fighter aircraft in the world – they were extremely fortunate to escape from this ordeal.
The fascinating story of ‘Miss Pick Up’ highlights the work of Search and Rescue crews during WWII
The Catalina is a beautiful and distinctive Airshow display aircraft
The current owners of this beautiful aircraft were so taken with the incredible account of a UK based 8th Air Force rescue Catalina and its destruction at the hands of Me 262 jet fighters that they embarked on a period of exhaustive research to corroborate the details of this incident. Once they were sure the details were correct, they repainted their aircraft to represent Consolidated OA-10A Catalina 44-33915 ‘Miss Pick Up’ in order to commemorate this incredible incident and to pay tribute to all the men of the USAAF who operated from bases in the UK during WWII. She has become one of the most popular Airshow acts across Europe, showing great agility for such a large aeroplane and displaying her unique amphibious qualities by regularly operating from water. Her appearance at the East Kirkby Airshow allowed attendees to get really close to this aircraft and further enhance her popularity amongst enthusiasts – for a small fee, it was even possible to have a tour of the interior of the aircraft, but obviously whilst she was still firmly on the ground. Her flying display will be remembered by many at the show as one of the highlights of the 2016 season, particularly as this impressive aircraft took off and recovered to the relatively tight confines of the grass strip at East Kirkby – a real aviation treat for the bumper crowd at this year’s show. There is certainly no doubting that everyone who made it to the show will have been thoroughly entertained and keen to have more of the same in 2017 – we had better all book our tickets early.
I hope that you have enjoyed this look at just some of the highlights of the 2016 East Kirkby Airshow, which took place on Saturday 6th August. As we bid farewell to this current Airshow season, we will have the opportunity to look a little more closely at some of the 2016 shows over coming editions of Aerodrome, as we try to negotiate a long hard winter of dark nights and a distinct lack of aeroplanes. With plenty more to bring you from East Kirkby, we may well be visiting this delightful former Bomber Command station again, especially as the museum attempts to bring ‘Just Jane’ to airworthy condition, which will be a monumental development in the history of historic aviation in the UK – a project certainly worth keeping an eye on.
We will see more from East Kirkby Airshow in a future edition of Aerodrome
We'd like to say a very big thank you to Andrew and the fantastic team at Lincolnshire Aviation Heritage Centre, who have been incredibly helpful in contributing to this article. Please do visit their website and see how you can show your support for the Lancaster and help to keep it running for years to come!
As usual, we are always interested to hear from our readers, particularly if you have any interesting aviation related stories to share, or unusual photographs to send us. With the next ‘Readers Pictures’ edition of Aerodrome just around the corner, please do send us your Airshow and museum pictures from the 2016 season, which may just find their way on to our blog. As usual, you can send us your aviation pictures and stories to our direct e-mail addresses at aerodrome@airfix.com and aerodrome@corgi.co.uk, or by posting them on our Forum, or social media accounts detailed below. Please do get involved and help to shape the direction of future Aerodrome blogs.
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Thank you very much for reading our latest blog and I look forward to bringing you more aviation related content in two weeks’ time, where we will be looking at Duxford’s last major show of 2016.
Michael
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