This area of southeast Lincolnshire finds East Kirkby museum, RAF Coningsby (Typhoons and the BBMF), and Woodhall Spa all quite close together.

Woodhall Spa for part of the later period of the war was home to 617 Squadron, the specialist unit formed initially for the May 1943 Ruhr Dams raid, and later the attacks on the Tirpitz, the V-2 centre at Peenemünde, and the Bielefeld railway viaduct. All of these used the Lancaster bomber.

The Squadron memorial lists the 204 aircrew who died in the squadron's two year duration during WW2, appropriately commemorating its first and most well known operation.

The picture will enlarge using the "+" if you wish to read the names.

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The airfield here, like many in the Second World War, was grass, which in retrospect seems strange for such a large aircraft, running on only three wheels, particularly when carrying a full bomb load.

Obviously however, it did work!

The day was mainly cloudy, but we did get the odd short burst of sunshine, as seen here.

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The Lancaster runs out along the hard standing here prior to its taxi runs on the main airfield. It is possible for a fee to ride in the aircraft on these runs, including in the three (somewhat cramped) gun turrets.

This particular aircraft never saw operational service with the RAF, being delivered right at the end of WW2. It was sold as part of a batch to the French Navy, before returning to the UK for preservation. Between 1974 and 1987 it was the gate guard at RAF Scampton, a few miles north of Lincoln on the A15, and home over the years of several bomber squadrons with aircraft from the Lancaster to the Vulcan. This was the airfield from which 617 Squadron conducted the May 1943 raid on the Ruhr dams. In 1987 the aircraft was brought here by the Panton brothers, who were in process of setting up this museum in honour of their third brother who had lost his life in the war flying in Bomber Command.

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I visited the Lincolnshire Aviation Heritage centre at East Kirkby near Spilsby yesterday.

The highlight of the day was the two taxi runs of the preserved Lancaster bomber, which it is intended to restore to flying condition.

Here the third engine, port inboard, is just being started, with both starboard ones already turning. It's a long time since I did aircraft photography, and in retrospect a slightly slower shutter speed might have been better!

Note as well the two long bomb bay doors under the fuselage, which were about to be closed prior to movement.

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As well as being home to two RAF Typhoon jet squadrons, Coningsby has the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight (BBMF). This picture is by the perimeter fence wth the BBMF hangar behind.

On May 25th this highly experienced pilot died in a tragic accident whilst flying one of the BBMF's Spitfires, which crashed nearby.

He was due to take command of the BBMF in October this year, having been flying high performance jets for many years, and joining the BBMF in 2021.

The BBMF was formed as the RAF Historic Aircraft Flight in July 1957, and whilst there have been other accidents, this is the first one to involve a fatality in all that time.

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