BBMF LANCASTER TO VISIT BENELUX REGION
Plane spotters and people with a keen interest in the history of the Second World War are in for a real treat, on the 4th of May the BBMF Lancaster bomber will perform a number of flypasts across Belgium and the Netherlands (details on the flypasts below).
The Lancaster bomber acquired by the BBMF in 1973, is one of only two surviving airworthy examples of the type; the other is in Canada.
She was built in mid-1945 and assigned to reconnaissance duties after appearing too late to take part in the bombing of Japan. After various duties, she was adopted by the Air Historical Branch for display work. She appeared in two films: Operation Crossbow and The Guns of Navarone. Having been flown for much of her service with the BBMF as the "City of Lincoln", PA474 previously wore the markings of the "Phantom of the Ruhr", a Lancaster that flew 121 sorties (a so-called "ton-up" Lancaster). Originally assigned to 100 Squadron in June 1943, the original "Phantom" was transferred to 101 Squadron in November that year and finished the war as part of 550 Squadron at Ludford Magna. The Lancaster currently carries two markings. On the left-hand side, she carries the markings of AR-L 'Leader', which served with No 460 Squadron (RAAF). On the right-hand side, she carries the markings of the 50 Squadron code letters VN-T, representing the Lancaster flown by FO Douglas Millikin DFC.
PA474 displays the markings of bombs for operations over Germany, ice-cream cones for operations over Italy and poppies when she releases poppies during exhibition flights. During the 2008 RAF Waddington Air Day, PA474 was flown in formation with the recently restored Avro Vulcan XH558 in a historic display of two Avro "heavy metal" classics.
The planned route-
11:00LT - Depart RAF Conningsby (UK)
12:06LT - Flypast over Lancaster W 4234 DX-P Memorial in Lierde (Belgium)
12:27LT - Flypast over Lancaster HK 542 KO-J Memorial in Alken (Belgium)
12:35LT - Flypasts over Leopoldsburg/Beverlo Airfield in Hechtel-Eksel (Belgium)
12:45LT - Flypast over Lancaster ME 752 AA-Z Memorial in Heythuysen (Nehterlands)
13:00LT - Flypast over Crashed Aircraft Memorial in Gierle (Belgium)
13:14LT - Flypast and technical stop at Gilze-Rijen Air Base in (Netherlands)
16:00LT - Depart Gilze-Rijen Air Base in (Netherlands)
16:05LT - Flypast over Lancaster LM 508 SR-P Memorial in Werkendam (Netherlands)
16:16LT - Flypast over Lancaster W 4191 EM-Q Memorial in Elst (Netherlands)
16:27LT - Flypast over Lancaster ED 626 PM-G Memorial in Hulshorst (Netherlands)
16:34LT - Flypast over Lancaster ED 357 Memorial in Dronten (Netherlands)
16:46LT - Flypast over Lancaster LL 678 A2-L Memorial in Bathmen (Netherlands)
16:54LT - Flypast over Lancaster JB 144 KC-N Memorial in Den Ham (Netherlands)
17:07LT - Flypast over Lancaster JB 154 OL-A Memorial in Assen (Netherlands)
17:33LT - Flypast over Lancaster ND363 PM-K Memorial in Texel (Netherlands)
18:34LT - Arrive at RAF Conningsby (UK)
