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Battle of Britain Memorial Flight

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Battle brought to life in Lincoln

The experience of flying some of the county’s most famous aircraft, will be brought to life in Lincoln through a unique audio-visual presentation including stunning images of real-life events from World War II.

The presentation will be given by guides from the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight Visitor Centre, one of whom has had first hand experience of the BBMF aircraft, at the Drill Hall in Lincoln on Tuesday 3 June to help celebrate 90 years of the RAF.

Twenty-two years after the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight opened its doors to the general public at RAF Coningsby, ‘Their Finest Hour’ is an evening of stories, sights and sounds presented by experts on the BBMF aircraft, including the Spitfire, Lancaster, and Hurricanes.

Beginning with the background to World War II, the presentation depicts major events of the Battle of Britain and the Blitz and shows stunning pictures of the BBMF’s aeroplanes in flight, graphically described by Alan Taylor, a post-war Meteor jet pilot.

Syd Marshall, a veteran of 36 bombing raids as a Lancaster Flight Engineer, will describe life inside the Lancaster over Germany and the evolution of Bomber Command’s most successful weapon, the Avro Lancaster.

The presentation will also include information about the BBMF Visitor Centre and information on the present-day activities of the Flight.

06 May 2008

Commemoration of 65th Anniversary of Dambusters Raid

The Flight will be privileged to help commemorate the 65 Anniversary of the Dambuster Raids. The event will take place on 16 May 2008, starting at 1000hrs with a short service lead by Reverend Sqn Ldr John Ellis. This will be followed by a flypast of the Lancaster, Tornadoes of 617 Sqn, Hurricane Spitfire and Dakota.

This event is by ticket only on advice from the Emergency Services. There will be no vehicular access to Derwent Dam or the Derwent Valley north of the A57. Police will enforce strict parking controls on the A57 and surrounding roads.

The reason for limiting access is purely related to public safety and the number of car park passes being issued is directly related to the number of vehicles which can be safely accommodated in the valley without impeding access for Ambulances or other Emergency Vehicles. Anyone who arrives by public transport and is prepared to walk in to the valley on foot is welcome to do so.

The public can apply for tickets for the event by email as follows dambustersmemorial@peakdistrict.gov.uk . Once an email has been sent the following acknowledgement message will be sent: "Thank you for your request for a Car Park Pass to the Dambusters Memorial Event on the 16 May 2008 in the Upper Derwent Valley. We have to restrict vehicular access to the valley for this event due to safety considerations. The road into the Valley will be closed and police will strictly enforce parking restrictions on adjoining roads. In the event of over subscription for passes, your name will be entered into a ballot and drawn 'blind' to ensure fairness. Please note that you will only be contacted again if you are successful. Thank you again for your interest."

The Lancaster will take the following route on the 16 May 08, depart RAF Coningsby 0940 , towards Middle Trent Power station, North Rotherham towards the wind farm at Spicer Hill will then approach the dam from the North complete three passes over the dam wall and then continue down the valley over Bamford Church Tower continuing on towards Chatswoth House and then East towards Scampton, allowing a number of other opportunities to view the aircraft.

24 April 2008

BBMF goes Digital

BBMF aircraft may be 70 years old but they still have to conform to the current mandated airspace policies, which are constantly evolving in the UK and Europe. Since 2005, the amount of Transponder Mandatory Zones requiring Mode S IFF has been steadily increasing in UK and Europe. This threatened to limit where BBMF could operate and display if they did not have the required avionics equipment on board.

Mode S or mode "select," is the latest way to interrogate an airframe by using a distinct address, such as an aircraft address, that only a particular airframe will respond to. It is a replacement for the existing Mode A/C system currently used.

Primary surveillance radar (PSR) is still used to "paint" the airframe with a radar pulse and place a target on the plan position indicator (PPI), which is the Air Traffic Control display screen. However, the combined use of PSR and Secondary Surveillance Radar (SSR) allows for better surveillance without major upgrades to the existing PSR/SSR system. This provides a means of gathering basic information about the aircraft. The mode S-equipped aircraft can now report identity, intent, capability location and altitude.

DE&S were tasked early this year to develop and fit a Mode S IFF system to selected BBMF aircraft so they could meet their display commitments. The request from Air Command stated that this should be carried out on two Spitfires, a Hurricane, the Dakota by April 29 th 2008 and the Lancaster by the end of May 2008. This was a sporty deadline, as a suitable equipment solution had not been identified. Where other platforms may have dedicated Engineering Development and Investigation Teams (EDIT) to assist with the production of Service Modifications, BBMF support consists of two engineers and a Finance/Supplier embedded within the Nimrod IPT at RAF Wyton to cover all the support functions. They have no internal EDIT to call upon for this type of work.

The existing Fighter Major Maintenance Contract with the Aircraft Restoration Company (ARCo) was used as the tasking vehicle for engineering support. A meeting with ARCO involving DE&S Nimrod IPT Commercial and Engineering staff and with the inclusion of OC BBMF, the Release to Service Authority, Handling Squadron and the Defence Quality Assurance Field Force, all confirmed that the project was feasible.

Within a few weeks the aircraft were surveyed, a suitable system identified and procured, fabrication of airframe hardware completed and authorised Service Modification leaflets produced. Spitfire AB910 and Hurricane PZ865 were the first aircraft to be modified on 9-11 Apr by Colin Swan and John Smith from ARCo working at RAF Coningsby.

Each aircraft took one day to modify. The equipment was made to fit the existing aircraft structure, which saved a lot of time. We used the fittings for the old IFF Mode A/C system as the basis for the new system. It was as close to plug-and-play as we could make it said Chief Technician Colin Robertson, the BBMF Project Manager. Utilising experienced contractors to carry out this type of work reduced the pressure on the BBMF engineers at Coningsby who were extremely busy getting the rest of the aircraft ready for the Summer display season post winter maintenance.

The next phase is to fit the system to the Dakota and PS915, the MkXIX Spitfire, by the end of the April with Lancaster PA474 being modified soon after. The opportunity was also taken to fit the Mode S system to MK356, the MKIX Spitfire, which is undergoing Major Maintenance at ARCo and is due delivery back to RAF Coningsby May/June 2008.

Information on Mode S available at http://www.eurocontrol.int/msa/public/standard_page/modes_homepage.html

Chief Tech Colin Robertson
BBMF Eng

24 April 2008

Well done, Di!

Congratulations to Mrs Di Holland who was awarded a Station Commander’s Commendation for her dedication to the Flight. Amongst her many responsibilities she arranges all the accommodation for the crews during the display season. Di received her award from RAF Coningsby Station Commander, Gp Capt Stu Atha.

07 April 2008

New Hurricane Pilot for the RAF!!

The 2nd April 2008 was a special day for Wg Cdr Tony Innes, as he added another famous RAF Fighter aircraft to his log book - the Hawker Hurricane. Wg Cmdr Innes is in his first season with the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight and his conversion training started in the Flight’s De Havilland Chipmunk as the modern RAF pilot has little experience on tail-wheel aircraft. Following a further two flying hours in a Harvard he was then ready to fly the Hurricane. He will, however, fly for another fifteen hours in the Hurricane before OC BBMF allows him loose in a Spitfire.........

07 April 2008

Campaign launched for Battle of Britain hero’s statue in Trafalgar Square

Friday 7th March saw the launch of a campaign to erect a statue of Battle of Britain hero Sir Keith Park on the Fourth Plinth in Trafalgar Square. Supporters of the campaign include politicians Boris Johnson MP, Brian Paddick and Tony Benn; historians Dr Stephen Bungay and Antony Beevor; former senior military officers Field Marshall Lord Bramall and General Lord Guthrie; and broadcaster Sir Patrick Moore.

New Zealander Sir Keith Park played a crucial role in winning the Battle of Britain.  As Air Vice-Marshal, Park commanded the RAF squadrons which defended London and the South East of England in 1940. He then led the defence of Malta in 1942 and reached the rank of Air Chief Marshal.

After the war, Lord Tedder, GCB, Marshal of the Royal Air Force, said of Park: “If any one man won the Battle of Britain, he did. I do not believe it is realised how much that one man, with his leadership, his calm judgement and his skill, did to save, not only this country, but the world.”

At the photo call to launch the campaign in Trafalgar Square, former Battle of Britain pilots joined senior serving RAF officers, a great-great-niece of Sir Keith Park, politicians and many other supporters of the campaign from across the country.  A full-size replica of a Spitfire formed the backdrop for the launch.

Chief of the Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal Sir Glenn Torpy KCB CBE DSO ADC BSc (Eng) FRAeS FCGI RAF, said: “The plan to erect a statue of Air Chief Marshal Sir Keith Park to commemorate his contribution to the Royal Air Force is particularly timely in this the 90 th year since its formation.  A statue situated in an appropriate location in London would be a fitting memorial to this World War I fighter ace and highly decorated airman. Sir Keith’s illustrious military career spanned over 30 years during which he progressed from being an enlisted soldier to Air Chief Marshal. This very public acknowledgement of in particular Sir Keith’s leadership of Number 11 Group Fighter Command in the defence of South East England and London is perhaps over due. It is an appropriate tribute to a man whose courage and resourcefulness were central to victory during the Battle of Britain and whose accomplishments are in the finest traditions of the Royal Air Force.”

A spokesperson for the New Zealand High Commission said: “The New Zealand Government recognises the vital contribution made by Sir Keith Park during World War II in defence of the United Kingdom.  This initiative should contribute to informing people about Sir Keith's life and achievements.”

The campaign for a statue of Sir Keith was initiated by Terry Smith, a businessman and keen historian.  Terry Smith said: “Trafalgar Square commemorates Nelson, who defended England in her hour of need. Yet, amazingly, there is no public memorial to Sir Keith Park. It is hard to imagine that the Fourth Plinth could serve a greater purpose than commemorating a man who did so much for this country. Hitler’s failure to beat the RAF in 1940 forced him to call off his plans for invading Britain. Had Park lost, think what our future might have been.”

“Such a memorial would help keep both his memory alive, and also help educate the young and all visitors to London of the incredible sacrifices made in that epic battle which raged above London and the South East in 1940.”

The campaign is encouraging visitors to its website, www.sirkeithpark.com, to sign an online petition calling for the memorial.  The website also contains a media section and image library

Dr. Stephen Bungay, historian and author of ‘The Most Dangerous Enemy: A History of the Battle of Britain’, said: “Like Wellington, Park was never defeated in Battle.  His record makes him, without rival, the greatest operational commander in the short history of air warfare”.

A bronze statue of Sir Keith is in the process of being commissioned from the leading New Zealand sculptor, Roderick Burgess. 

01 April 2008

Help needed

The Bomber Command Association (NZ) is unfortunately fading away but those remaining crew want a permanent memorial to the New Zealanders who gave their lives – some 2000 out of 6000, probably the highest proportion of any country represented in Bomber Command.

Accordingly, the Association sought and gained permission from the Auckland War Memorial Museum to have a dedicated memorial sited there and commissioned Weta Workshop to design something suitable. (Weta is linked with Peter Jackson and the company helped win an Oscar for work on ‘Lord of the Rings’).

The total cost is $NZ100,000 (approximately £40,000), of which about $70,000 (£28,000) has already been raised – including a $1000 donation from an Australian ex-Pathfinder – but according to ex-Pathfinder and Bomber Command Association founder/president Bill Simpson, "things are slowing down now... it's hard to get various funding organizations to understand what it was all about – 63-plus years is a long time ago!"

If any of our readers would like to help our New Zealand colleagues donations can be made to:

NZ Bomber Command Memorial Fund,
Wing Commander W.J. Simpson QSO, DFC (Retd),
85 Tarawera Terrace,
St Heliers,
Auckland 1071,
New Zealand.

12 March 2008

Squadron Leader Lawrence "Benny" Goodman

Last month BBMF had a special visitor to the Flight , Sqn Ldr ‘Benny’ Goodman. OC BBMF,Sqn Ldr Al Pinner was delighted to show Benny around the hangar and allow him to reminisce as he sat back in the hot seat in the Lancaster.

Benny Goodman volunteered for aircrew at 18 years of age was called up in 1940 only to find himself posted to RAF Abingdon as a ground gunner. He commenced flying training in 1941 at Peterborough. Immediately after being awarded his wings he was given an instructor’s course at Woodley and posted to Canada where, at Kingston, Ontario, he instructed Fleet Air Arm pilots on deck take offs and dive bombing in North American Harvards. Never having done this before himself, he had to learn it, too, staying just one step ahead of the students. He requested a posting back to the UK in 1942 and spent the next twenty months at No 17 OTU Silverstone flying Wellingtons and then 1660 Conversion Unit with Stirlings at Swinderby before converting to the Lancaster at 5 Lancaster Finishing School, Syerston.

He was posted to No. 617 Sqn at Woodhall Spa in August 1944 as a Flt Lt, being one of only a few crews to be posted to the Squadron without any previous operational experience. He completed 30 operations with 617 Sqn including one against the German battleship Tirpitz (29/10/44), dropping a 22,000lb Grand Slam on the Arnsberg viaduct (19/3/45) and participated in the Squadron's final wartime operation against Berchtesgaden (25 April 1945). During a daylight attack on Hamburg in April 1945 he was not a little concerned when his Flight Engineer pointed to starboard, where a Me 262 jet fighter was formating on their wing tip. Fortunately the German appeared to be out of ammunition and peeled off, leaving them to their return journey to base.

Posted from 617 Sqn in May 1945 he joined Transport Command flying Stirlings, and Halifaxes before joining No. 604 Sqn at Hendon to fly Spitfires before returning to Transport Command and the ubiquitous Hastings. He remained in to RAF until 1964, latterly flying Canbarras in Germany on photo reconnaissance sorties.

22 January 2008

First year on The Flight

By Sgt Griff Lay

When I was told in April 2007 that I was posted to the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight I honestly could not believe my luck. Given that there are only six Electrical/Avionics posts on The Flight and knowing how many members of my trade in the RAF were likely to have their applications in, the chances of a position becoming available for me had seemed virtually impossible. I applied anyway and remarkably here I am!

To say that I am pleased to be here is a massive understatement. I can trace my interest in joining the Forces back to my childhood when I remember watching classic war films on TV at home with my Father. The film ‘The Battle of Britain’ was always my favourite and so I suppose it was only natural that I would choose the Royal Air Force over the Royal Navy or British Army when I came to leave school.

But having joined up as an Aircraft Electrician in 1991, it was only about four years ago that I got round to applying for the BBMF. Somewhat embarrassingly, it was only then that I became aware that regular RAF engineers were eligible. For some reason I had always assumed only reservists were employed on BBMF. I now know that there is actually a mixture of both. Luckily for me the position of Electrical/Avionic Trade Manager was a regular post and when it became vacant I was in the right place at the right time. Like the Red Arrows and Search and Rescue, BBMF is a posting that can only be attained by special application, upon receipt of which your name goes to the bottom of a list. I may never know where my name was on ‘the list’ but being newly promoted (giving The Flight the benefit of my services for the maximum amount of time), being on a disbanding squadron that needed to find a slot for me and being already based at RAF Coningsby clearly gave me an advantage. Oh, and not coming across as an over-enthusiastic idiot when interviewed by The Flight’s Warrant Officer my have helped too, something which I had to work on very hard!

I duly arrived approximately a third of the way through the ’07 display season and found myself flying over Buckingham Palace in the Lancaster on my very first weekend.

It was, needless to say, absolutely fantastic!

With only twenty five engineers in total on The Flight there was no time for a prolonged period of nannying. So within the month I found myself in command of a five man groundcrew team landing away at an airshow with the Lancaster, a Spitfire and a Hurricane. That first trip in charge of engineering was a little nerve racking to say the least but I need not have worried due to the very high level of experience and professionalism of the other engineers and aircrew. The rest of the display season went by all too soon and I thoroughly enjoyed every minute of it. I calculated at the display season’s end that I had on average worked every other weekend throughout the summer. This was apparently slightly less than normal, and whilst every effort is made to allow those worked weekend days to be taken off during the following week, this is a feature of BBMF life that may not appeal to everybody in the RAF. Personally, although not every working weekend is necessarily spent strutting around in black flying suits attending an airshow, I cannot think of many things I would rather be doing.

Having the opportunity to work on these magnificent aircraft really is a privilege when I think about their historical significance. Additionally, I particularly enjoy the interaction with civilian engineering firms, museums and private collectors that is often required to source many of the replacement parts that we need. This is something that an engineer of my rank would not normally get the opportunity to do.

So is there anything that I miss from front line squadron life? Well yes there is. For the last fourteen years I have worked a week of days followed by a week of nights but I now work essentially permanent days. So I am no longer able to get anything done in the daytime during the week. Also, I will miss going away with a Squadron on detachment for weeks or months at a time which is always good fun whatever the destination. But these are trivial issues compared to the benefits of being on BBMF.

Making our aircraft serviceable in order that the public get to see them is what we engineers are here for and it is the marked increase in enthusiasm for the flying that is the biggest difference for me. The operational squadrons I have worked on previously had a far busier flying program. But if the last sortie on a Friday afternoon was missed due to unserviceability then the lost aircrew flying training could easily be made up the following week. On BBMF however that lost Friday sortie will leave hundreds, maybe even thousands of people disappointed.

So do I have a favourite part of my new post? I would have to say that I have two favourite features. One is how I am able to help make people feel proud of their military heritage when they see our aircraft overhead. But more importantly I am thrilled that I have been given the honour to help tend to a living, fire breathing, spine tingling tribute to all those who lost their lives in the service of this country.

21 January 2008

A Celebration of Collections

For the 50th anniversary year of the BBMF, Corgi has released a collection of BBMF models ranging across the fleet, Spitfire XT-D, Hurricane YB-W and Lancaster Phantom of the Ruhr have all been immortalised in a 1:72nd scale 3 piece set. And Hurricane PZ 865 the ‘Night Reaper’ has also been modelled in 1:32 nd scale.

On the 4 December 2007, Mr Ricki Curtis, Corgi Marketing Manager, kindly donated the latest model of Hurricane PZ 865 to the Flight. Further details on the model can be found at http://www.corgi.biz/bbmf

The BBMF Corgi collection will be officially launched at the Visitors Centre on the 15 January 2008 during a special event ‘A Celebration of Collections’. This event will also see the launch of a new exhibition in the visitors centre on the history of the Flight and an award winning collection of photography from the RAF Coningsby photographic section. These collections including the Corgi models will be on show at the visitors centre from the 15 January 2008.

19 December 2007

Full Steam Ahead!!

Earlier in the year, the renowned wildlife artist David Shepherd had kindly donated one of his Elephant paintings to the BBMF to be auctioned at our 50th Anniversary Banquet. During discussions he had paid another visit to the BBMF and while strolling around the hangar, he had extended an invitation to Al Pinner to bring the team down to the Gloucestershire Worcestershire Railway and have a go at driving his steam locomotive, The Black Prince. On 10th December, David had arranged for the Railway to be opened up for purely for BBMF to drive his wonderful machine. 14 members of the team went down to Toddington, arriving by 10am just as The Black Prince steamed into the station. As can be seen by the happy smiling faces, this was truly a great day out and definitely the answer to many a schoolboy's dream. To drive this wonderful machine while being regaled with many of David's tales of painting RAF aircraft, steam locomotives and of course wildlife was the experience of a lifetime.

19 December 2007

MK356 Major Maintenance - Week 8

By Chief Technician Colin Robertson, DE&S Project Manager for BBMF

MK356, BBMF’s Mk9 Spitfire is undergoing major maintenance at the Aircraft Restoration Company (ARCo), Duxford. Delivered to ARCo by OC BBMF on 2nd Oct 2007, this was MK356’s first major maintenance since rebuild at St Athan 10 years ago.

Stripped of paint and all bay serviced components, the scheduled inspections have been completed and the rectification phase is beginning. MK356’s flying characteristics - low speeds and slightly higher fuel consumption for standard power settings, indicated that there might be an issue with the wings. The opportunity was taken during this maintenance period to remove the wings so they could be checked for symmetry in a jig.

No wing problems were found which would account for the lack of aircraft performance. However, additional inspections revealed a number of issues with the attachment bolts and holes relating to the wing and carry-through spars. ARCo produced a comprehensive report on the condition of the spars resulting in the decision that a respar of the wings was necessary. A labour intensive, but necessary task which will allow MK356 to grace our skies for the foreseeable future.

12 December 2007

OC BBMF Awarded Top RAF Trophy

As all our readers know there can be few more inspirational sights and sounds than that of a Spitfire, Hurricane or Lancaster of the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight (BBMF) flying overhead. These aircraft have become national icons and are lasting symbols of the heroism and sacrifice of our aircrew across the years. Fighter pilot Sqn Ldr Al Pinner has been a member of BBMF for five years and Officer Commanding for the last two years. 2007 has been particularly challenging for him as the Flight celebrated fifty years of commemorative service and produced a Golden Anniversary season to remember!

Al’s services have been recognised at the highest level and he was awarded the prestigious Sir John Barraclough Trophy by the Chief of Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal Sir Glenn Torpy. Each year at the Palace of Westminster the Air Power Association (APrA) presents two trophies in recognition of services to RAF public relations – the Sir John Barraclough Trophy and the CP Robertson Memorial Trophy. The Barraclough Trophy is awarded to the unit or individual member of the RAF having in the judgement of the Association’s Executive Committee made an outstanding contribution to RAF PR in the previous year. "This year’s winner was nominated for his energetic and enthusiastic contribution to promoting the RAF, primarily through contacts with the media," said RAF Director of Air Staff, Air Commodore Mark Roberts.

Al was honoured to have won the award and said "I am delighted to receive this award on behalf of all the members of the BBMF. It is very much down to the combined efforts of the team that we have had such success in this our Golden Anniversary year. Interest in the Flight from the public has never been higher and it is our privilege to be able to present these priceless pieces of our national heritage in front of as many of the public as possible. For the third consecutive year BBMF were tasked with a record number of events and, despite the wettest summer on record, achieved the largest number of appearances ever."

Sqn Ldr Pinner was in good company as he received his award as the CP Robertson Trophy was awarded to Top Gear presenter James May for a BBC screened program about his flight in an RAF Typhoon aircraft.

05 December 2007

Supporting our troops

"What can be done to show support for our Armed Forces?"

Boarding pupils at Stamford School, Lincolnshire, a school with a long standing connection to the RAF and the services in general, asked this question in June.

The answer came from the students themselves, design and sell charity wrist bands declaring their support for our troops. The next stage was to launch a web site - www.supportingourtroops.co.uk - in the hope that a few others may purchase the bands, "what we did not anticipate was the scale of that support" said Richard Brewster, House Master at the school. Some 1500 bands have been sold to date, with all profits going to a range of Forces related charities such as Combat Stress, Soldiers' Sailors' and Airmen Families Association, Army Benevolent Fund and Royal Air Force Benevolent Fund.

With support from various individuals and organisations, including the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight, the Red Arrows aerobatic display team, Yorkshire County Cricket Club and launched by some members of England's cricket team during the summer test series against India, this is a great way to let our troops know they are not forgotten.

"Whether you agree with the conflict in Iraq and Afghanistan or not, this is about the men and women who are proudly doing their duty for our country. They need to know we are just as proud of them and fully support their safe homecoming" said Richard.

Stamford Endowed Schools has one of the largest voluntary Combined Cadet Forces in the UK and a long tradition of producing leaders, not only in the services, but also in business, education and the arts.

05 December 2007

The Battle of Britain Memorial Flight's Lincolnshire Lancaster Association Day

An unseasonably beautiful day at RAF Coningsby marked the end of this years flying season by the majority of the Flight. To see all the pictures from the day, please click here.

26 November 2007

BBMF DVD (£15.99, UK Post Paid) & BBMF Calendar (£6.20, UK Post Paid)
Available from LLA ,PO Box474, Lincoln, LN5 8ZW.

Just released - Lest We Forget - The Battle of Britain Memorial Flight - The official DVD

Celebrating the 5oth Anniversary of the Flight, this DVD from BNT Massey Productions marks a year with the men and machines of the RAF's flying memorial to the aircrew who fought and died for their country in the Second World War.

With onboard cameras, candid interviews and unprecedented access, it's a unique record of a season with the Flight in a memorable Anniversary year. There's a gruelling schedule of hundreds of flypasts and displays. Veteran aircrew members air their feelings, and describe their experiences with these aircraft during WW2.

The DVD includes in flight coverage of the Queen's Birthday Flypast over Buckingham Palace, including a unique never before seen insight into the planning of such a momentous flight.

In a duration of 1 hour 33 minutes, over 30 minutes worth of DVD extras include; The Groundcrew, The Veterans, The Music of The Merlins, and Duxford Flypast.

15 November 2007

The last of the Kiwi few....

Following on from our piece about the ATA, Peter McQuaid sent us the following article which was recently published in the RNZAFA News.

Retired farmer’s wife June Gummer died recently at Tutukaka, north of Whangarei, at the age of 88.

June Gummer? June Gummer? What was HER link with the Air Force, with World War II?

Try JUNE HOWDEN…

• This was the doctor’s daughter from Waiuku who in 1935 won a New Zealand Herald flying scholarship while still at Waikato Diocesan School for Girls and at 17 could fly a plane but couldn’t yet drive a car.
• This was the girl who joined the WAAFs soon after the outbreak of war and became an Airwoman of the Watch – basically an air traffic controller – at RNZAF Woodbourne.
• This was the tiny (5ft 2½in) WAAF who headed to England in 1944 to become one of only four New Zealand woman pilots to fly for the Air Transport Auxiliary, ferrying all types of aircraft around the UK for the remainder of the war. (Eventually 166 of the more than 1000 ATA pilots were women.)
• This was the girl who had dreamed of flying around England in a Tiger Moth, but never thought she would do so in a Spitfire!

When June arrived in England the ATA gave her a test flight in a Tiger Moth and after she passed this she was signed up for the duration of the war and briefly trained on various types of aircraft in cross-country flights. Then it was into action, ferrying maybe one plane a day, maybe three – and what a variety. Each time a new type was to be delivered the pilot had to quickly learn about it from notes drawn from the library, then flew with a single blue reminder note, with the main points summarized. June remembered on one occasion having to read this to find out how to land a particular aircraft while she was flying it at well over 300kmh!

Altogether, June said, the hundreds of aircraft she flew with the ATA included about 22 types from the Hurricane on, but her favourite was always the Spitfire which, she said, “just fitted around you.” She flew about 90 Spitfires, but even these varied, from the models with the smooth Rolls Royce Merlin engine to the Mark XIX with its 2000hp Rolls Royce Griffon.

Much of June’s flying was done by map-reading or line-of-sight navigation as there was no radio on the smaller aircraft - this had to be left for the RAF. And in some aircraft where two people were needed, the other crew member was often an ATC cadet.

Altogether, ATA pilots delivered 308,567 aircraft - made up of 24 single-engined types, 18 twin- engined types, seven four-engined types, and two types of flying boat. (The women also flew the largest machines – American Lettice Curtis, for example, delivered 400 four-engined bombers.)

When June returned to New Zealand after the war she continued flying, as the taxi pilot for the Waikato Aero Club, and in the early 1950s she met Bob Gummer, a wartime fighter pilot in the Pacific who was now chief instructor at the Waharoa Aero Club. They married in 1954 and June finally quit flying a year or so later when expecting Martin, the first of their three children. Soon afterwards, the family moved to Te Kuiti, where Bob joined Robertson Air Service and where twins Sally and Virginia were born, but in 1967 Bob and June went fulltime farming until they retired to Tutukaka in 1974.

June, the last of those four Kiwi woman pilots of the Air Transport Auxiliary, is survived by husband Bob, their three children, and four grandchildren.

15 November 2007

Prestigious award for the BBC programme on the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight

A BBC TV crew spent a year with the men and women of the RAF’s flying memorial, the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight as it celebrated it’s fiftieth successful display season.

With onboard cameras, candid interviews and unprecedented access, it was a unique record of this special season. The programme ‘The Flight’ was shown on regional channels (Lincolnshire, Yorkshire and East Midlands) in May and was so popular it was shown nationally on BBC2 in August. The BBC independent viewing panel scored it 98 out of 100 apparently a record with normally an 80 considered very good!! The Camera Team of the programme has been awarded the Guild of Television Camera Award for Excellence, a very prestigious award with in the industry. The BBMF aircraft are part of our National heritage and interest in the RAF’s oldest aircraft has never been greater therefore it is not surprising that the viewing public have made so many requests for copies of the programme that the crew have decided to produce an extended version as a DVD and this should be available from mid November.

22 October 2007

Dropping in at the Great North Run!

The Battle of Britain Memorial Flight's 1942 Dakota flew over Newcastle delivering the RAF Falcon's Parachute Display Team to the Great North Run. The team jumped out of the aircraft at the start of the race and then ran it!! (One way to spend a Sunday morning......)

The Dakota is a year-round workhorse for the BBMF being used in a variety of roles, including general support tasks, such as transporting groundcrew and equipment to display venues or other operating airfields. Importantly, as there are no other multi-engine tail wheel-configured aircraft in RAF service outside the BBMF, she is used for training aircrew and in keeping the pilots of the Lancaster current on a multi-engine tailwheel aircraft during the winter months when the bomber is out of action.

Photographs taken by CPL Peter George, RAF Coningsby Photographic Section.

01 October 2007

Great Britain Beanie Bears take flight with the BBMF

Year 8 pupils at The Gartree Community Secondary School are planning lots of activities over the school year to fund a Guide Dog for the Blind. As part of the activities they asked BBMF if it was possible for three bears to have flights in the Lancaster, Spitfire and Hurricane, then the bears would be auctioned to raise funds. The staff and crew exceeded the pupils’ expectations with their generosity and time. All three bears flew in the Lancaster, Spitfire and Dakota over the weekend and have flight log sheets as proof of their time in the skies.

Three pupils from Year 8 were chosen to collect the Great Britain Beanie Bears from the BBMF last Friday, where they were treated to a special tour of the flight and even got to go in the Dakota and have their pictures taken.

One of the pupils commented, “This is one of the best experiences of my life,” bringing history to life for these children.

01 October 2007

Contract Award for Battle of Britain Memorial Flight Fighters

Major maintenance of the BBMF fighters will be carried out by the Aircraft Restoration Company (ARCo) based at Duxford near Cambridge, for the next 5 years with an option to extend to 7 years. The contract was awarded to ARCo after a competitive process by the Nimrod IPT, based at RAF Wyton, as they are responsible for the DE&S engineering, commercial and financial support functions for Battle of Britain Memorial Flight.

The first aircraft due in for maintenance is MK356, a clipped wing Mk LFIXe Spitfire. MK356 was originally built at Castle Bromwich and delivered to Digby in 1944. It took part in operations over France and is credited with a shared kill of a ME109. After the war, it was used as an instructional airframe and gate guardian before going on display at the St Athan museum. Refurbishment began in 1992 and it eventually flew in 1997 after being earthbound for 53 years. It currently wears the colours of 443 Sqn RCAF, which are the only markings it wore operationally. Traditionally, BBMF aircraft change their colour scheme during major maintenance. The new scheme will depict a 601 Squadron aircraft based in the Italian theatre in 1943.

The aircraft will be flown to Duxford at the beginning of October 2007. Maintenance is scheduled to take 6 months. The main tasks will include a repaint, replacement of the MK500 Merlin engine with a M266 Merlin engine to return the aircraft to build standard and many detailed inspections. The DE&S Project Manager is BBMF Eng, CT Colin Robertson. Colin’s previous projects include the major maintenance of Dakota ZA947, Chipmunk WK518, Hurricane LF363 and Lancaster PA474.

26 September 2007

550 Sqn Association Trophy

30 Aug 07 was a definite highlight of Cadet Flight Sergeant Charlotte Hunt's time with the Air Training Corps (ATC). She flew the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight's Dakota.

17 year old Charlotte, a member of 2409 (Halton) Squadron, ATC is the currently the top Female Sports Cadet in the country and as such was awarded the 550 Squadron Association Trophy. The BBMF's Lancaster currently carries 550 Sqn markings and the Flight's Commanding Officer, Sqn Ldr Al Pinner MBE, RAF, agreed to try fly the trophy winner (and her male counterpart) for at least as long as the Lancaster carries those markings.....

So, on 30 Aug Charlotte arrived at the Flight's HQ at RAF Coningsby in Lincolnshire and was met by the Flight's PR Officer, Jeanette O'Connell. Having been issued with flying clothing, Charlotte was given a private tour of the BBMF's hangar that included a moment to recreate the pose held LACW Margaret Horton when she was (accidentally) flown on a circuit of the airfield clinging to the tail plane She then joined the crew of Douglas Dakota, serial number ZA947, a WW2 era airframe - having first flown in March 1942. As with the Flight's other aircraft, ZA947 is as historically accurate as possible, including her rather spartan paratrooper interior.

The captain for the flight was Flt Lt Mike Leckey, a Qualified Flying Instructor whose 'day job' is a Dominie pilot with 55(R) Sqn at RAF Cranwell with Loadmaster Flt Lt Scott Greig in charge of the cabin. The flight was to have a dual purpose. The first period was to be a series of circuits at Coningsby before heading off to Chatsworth House in Derbyshire for an appearance at an Army Benevolent Fund event. The low level transit allowed for lovely views across the countryside before the run-in to the House. Four passes over the House and ZA947 was on her way back to base. It was then that Charlotte's chance to actually fly the aircraft happened. Under the watchful eye of Flt Lt Lecky, Charlotte slipped into the co-pilot's seat and proceeded to fly the aircraft for the next 20 minutes.

This summer Charlotte completed her flying scholarship at Dundee but nothing had prepared her for the Dakota. The main thing that she found unusual was the need to centralise the controls and then over compensate to stop the turns.

Once clear of her flying duties Charlotte was fitted with a strong webbing 'strop' and stood in the open doorway to see out the last few minutes of the flight. It was then back into the seats for the landing. Charlotte's reaction to the flight? "absolutely brilliant", although the huge grin on her face as she left the flight deck had given a clue to that. Charlotte would like to thank all at the BBMF for a wonderful and unique afternoon.

24 September 2007

Hon Wg Cdr William de Goat Visits Battle of Britain Memorial Flight

On 19 Jun 07, Officers and airmen of 609 (West Riding) Squadron RAuxAF visited RAF Coningsby for a guided tour. 609(WR) Sqn is a Royal Auxiliary Air Force Operational Support Squadron based at RAF Leeming in North Yorkshire. Its current role is to augment the Royal Air Force at home and overseas with personnel trained as RAF Regiment Gunners and in Force Protection skills. The station visit was part of 609 Sqn's two-week annual continuation training camp based at RAF Cottesmore.

609 Sqn is a famous WWII Fighter Sqn. Originally formed in 1936 at RAF Yeadon (now Leeds Bradford Airport), the Sqn was equipped with the Spitfire in mid 1939, shortly before the outbreak of war. The Sqn was heavily involved in all aspects of the war. However, it rose to particular notoriety for its efforts in the Battle of Britain where it became the first Fighter Sqn to achieve 100 kills. Later it played key roles in supporting the invasion force in the weeks and months following the D-Day landings.

The first part of the station tour was around the BBMF hanger. As the Sqn arrived, one of the BBMF Spitfires was being taxied out and subsequently flew overhead the station. The pilot was the Station Commander, Grp Capt Atha.

During the war the Sqn acquired a real billy goat as a mascot. He was taken around the country as the Sqn moved stations. He was named William de Goat and was always getting into mischief, frequently eating much more important things than Stn foliage.

William de Goat travelled with the Sqn to France on 1 July 1944 as the Sqn supported the Normandy invasion from deployed operating bases. He flew in with the Sqn's groundcrew to a temporary airstrip outside the village of Plumetot near Caen. As they arrived by Dakota, the aircraft came under enemy fire and William leapt out and followed his handler into a nearby trench. By the end of the war William reached the rank of Air Commodore.

609 Sqn's Honorary Air Commodore, Air Commodore S Bostock DL MSc FCMI RAF Ret'd attended the station visit. He greeted the RAF Coningsby's Station Commander when he landed from his Spitfire flight.

Air Commodore Bostock was then shown the interior of the BBMF Lancaster. In the cockpit he met a veteran pilot of over 30 Lancaster missions.

The Sqn's trip to RAF Coningsby ended with a tour of 3(F) Sqn and an introduction to the Typhoon. This was particularly appropriate to 609 (WR) Sqn as whilst the Sqn started the war with the Spitfire, the Hawker Typhoon replaced this in 1942.

The original, alive goat, served on the Sqn from 1941 until 1945.

24 September 2007

Spitfire Women of World War II

On Saturday 8th September, BBMF paid a nostalgic tribute to the intrepid women pilots of Air Transport Auxiliary when a Spitfire and Hurricane flew low over White Waltham airfield in Berkshire.

The occasion was the launch of a new book paying tribute to the intrepid women pilots who did a man's job ferrying Spitfires and other warplanes from factories to front line squadrons during World War II.  With BBMF's historic aircraft overhead and three Spitfire women in attendance, it was quite an occasion.

Air Transport Auxiliary's HQ and one of its 13 Ferry Pools was at White Waltham airfield, and the local Maidenhead Heritage Centre (www.maidenheadheritage.org.uk) has a large ATA archive, which was consulted by author Giles Whittell.  Whittell travelled to four continents to interview more than a dozen survivors of this most exclusive wartime sisterhood, who came from countries including the USA, Poland and Chile to fly for ATA.  He has woven their stories into a riveting account of white-knuckle flying, late nights, soaring hopes and heartrending loss. Some of the women have never spoken publicly about their flying before, yet all were revolutionaries in their way.

Heritage Centre Chairman Richard Poad, who frequently lectures about ATA, thanked the West London Aero Club for the opportunity to launch the book at their annual Members' Day Flying Display. 'White Waltham is the spiritual home of ATA' says Mr Poad. 'The ATA flag is on display in the clubhouse and there is a memorial in the garden; the Aero Club's logo even incorporates ATA's wings and motto. So White Waltham was the obvious place to us to launch this book, which gives these magnificent women pilots the recognition they deserve.'

Author Giles Whittell said: "Maidenhead Heritage Centre has painstakingly acquired an unrivalled archive of ATA documents, memories, photographs and memorabilia, and was unfailingly helpful with my research for 'Spitfire Women of World War Two'. The RAF and the people of Britain were indebted to these women - as they are to the Maidenhead Heritage Centre for keeping their memory alive."

Maggie Frost remembers that people sometimes thought they were seeing a Spitfire taxying out for take off with nobody at the controls. "But I am so short they couldn't see me', she chucked. 'And I couldn't see out very well either, until I was airborne." Mary Ellis said that her sole briefing for her first flight in a jet fighter was to be told that after 45 minutes the fuel would run out!

11 September 2007

A 50th Birthday Gift from Dresden to the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight

September 15 th is the anniversary of the Battle of Britain and 2007 is also the 50th anniversary of the founding of the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight.

All this summer, the gardens of the Flight's office at RAF Coningsby, Lincolnshire have been colourfully decorated with a display of 100 red zonal pelargoniums that have been sent to them in recognition of their 50th anniversary by the German plant breeder, Elsner pac Jungpflanzen of Dresden.

'We were very pleased to send a few plants last year of our best selling red zonal pelargonium PAC Anthony' stated Mr Wilhelm Elsner 'in recognition of the strong friendship that now exists between our two countries and especially the people of Dresden. With such an important date as a fifty year anniversary we wished, in our small way, to mark this with a bigger number of plants this time. We can all be pleased that our children and grandchildren can look forward to a future of better understanding between our two countries' he concluded.

07 September 2007

Best of British!!!

On Sunday the 19th August, Lincolnshire Triumph  Motor Cycle Club (Missing Lincs ), visited  Battle of Britain Memorial Flight at Royal Air Force Coningsby. They were fortunate enough to have a full and up close tour of all the aircraft given by WO Dick Harmer and Jeanette O'Connell the PRO. The main objective of the day was to get a photograph of the 32 attending bikes (with their owners!!) under the Lancaster bomber. The club fully appreciates the best of British Engineering and wishes the Flight every success for the future.

03 September 2007

Reds salute Battle of Britain Memorial Flight.

At Fairford airshow the public had the last chance to see the four original aircraft of the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight reunited for a fabulous tailchase display. This was followed by a unique flypast with the Red Arrows , in acknowledgement as a fellow display team, of the achievements of the BBMF in keeping these classic aircraft in the air and displaying for the last fifty years.

25 July 2007

The Malta Air Rally 2007.

BBMF is supported by the Nimrod Integrated Project Team based at RAF Wyton. Chief Technician Colin Robertson, a BBMF Engineer based at RAF Wyton, and the Project Managers for Lancaster PA474's 2006 Major Maintenance, has just returned from participating in the Malta Air Rally. Ably assisted by Colin Williamson from BAeS and Sqn Ldr Mick Mahon from the ARC IPT, the trio set off on 27 th June 07.

The Malta Air Rally is an annual event involving pilots from throughout Europe. It is not a race but a series of events designed to test the airmanship and planning skills of those involved. The events include:

• a specific time to be over the Giordan Lighthouse at Gozo on your arrival date (12:10 Local for us). This was changed from the Gozo NDB.
• a specific time to complete a certain distance based on cruising speed (18:35 from Giordan Lighthouse to Luqa ATC, a distance of 18.6 miles)
• Spot Landing competition
• Concours d' Elegance
• Flight Planning
• Longest Distance Flown

This year's event was intended to be the Royal Air Force Flying Clubs Association (RAFFCA) venue but for a myriad of reasons, RAF Wyton was the only RAFFCA aircraft to make it. Our aircraft was a Robin DR400 Regent 180 with 4.45 endurance and 130Kts cruising speed.

We did very well in the competition considering it was our first attempt. We were just over one minute over our allotted arrival time, and on time for the distance leg. The spot landing couldn't have been better, to the relief of the crew. Unfortunately, the electronic recording device malfunctioned for the first few entrants so the Spot Landing competition was cancelled. We scored highly in the Concours d' Elegance and Flight Planning.

Our crew won the ‘Most Sporting Entry' in recognition of our considerable efforts as a team. We were up against more modern aircraft with better avionics, auto pilots and crews who had competed in the Rally previously.

Routing took us from Wyton to Troyes then on for a night stop in Chambery. The next day we flew through the Alps to Voghera before spending a night at L'Aquila. With no fuel available at L'Aquila, we made our way to Pescara then on to Lemezia. This left us a manageable journey to get us into Malta for our allotted time.

After landing at Luqa, we taxied in and shut the aircraft down. We were met by members of the Rally Committee, who helped us through the formalities of the arrival procedure.

The next 4 days were spent attending Gala Dinners and prize giving events to promote comradeship and General Aviation. A very enjoyable experience, but all too short.

Colin Williamson had to return to UK and was replaced by Andy Stevens who would help us on our return leg to UK. Soon we were gathered in my hotel room for the next flight-planning episode, the route home. With expeditions like this, it is up to each crew to decide the route flown.

Routing back looked simple on paper, except for the long water crossing. We chose Malta to Ajaccio in Corsica. Two other Rallyists were flying a similar route. This gave us additional safety cover, as we would be in contact with the other aircraft for the long sea crossing.

On the day of departure, with so many light aircraft trying to get away and the need to schedule them in with the large passenger aircraft that were arriving and departing Luqa, we had a 45 minute hold with the engine running before we could take off. This was our first problem as it ate into our fuel reserves.

Unfortunately, the headwinds were stronger than expected and our calculations indicated it would be prudent to divert in to Olbia in Sardinia for a refuel. This was coordinated very efficiently by Italian Air Traffic Control. We were cleared to Olbia and took 160 litres of Avgas. We filed a flight plan for the next part of the journey and as time was on our side, we decided that Cannes sounded good for a night stop.

The trip took us over Corsica then back out to sea again to Cannes. 40 Knot winds were howling of the land and the airport had a blazing forest fire either side of it. It was one of the most challenging landings I have ever done but I managed to get the Robin down smoothly despite the severe turbulence.

We spent a pleasant night in Cannes before setting of early the next day for Troyes. A quick stop at Troyes for fuel and to file a flight plan and we were heading back towards the Channel.

The weather was poor with low cloud and drizzle as we approached Calais. With all in agreement and the long runway at Manston available for a diversion, we decided to continue for Dover, just over 8 minutes away.

The white cliffs of Dover appeared through the gloom. Our route took us from Dover, over Southend Airport and East of the Stanstead Control Zone. Soon we were talking to Cambridge who passed us weather details for the area. We could always divert to Cambridge if Wyton became too difficult. A few minutes later and we spotted Wyton runway. With rapidly deteriorating weather, we landed at 1830 on 5 th July. It seemed a shame to rush back from the blue sky of Cannes to such dismal British evening.

We had covered approximately 3200 miles. 3.5 days and 2 refuels to get to Malta and 2 days and 4 refuels to get back. A strong headwind makes a big difference.

Due to our success in this year's expedition, the Pathfinder Flying Club, RAF Wyton has been tasked to organize the 2008 expedition for RAFFCA. We have chosen Berlin Tempelhof as the destination. Tempelhof was used during the Berlin Airlift and closes in October 2008. Our trip will be based around this theme and hopefully, more RAFFCA aircraft will be able to participate.

Colin Robertson BBMF Eng

Pathfinder Flying Club Website

http://www.pathfinderflyingclub.co.uk

25 July 2007

Project 104.

Project 104, a charity event, aims to build a Memorial to the Allied Service personnel (such as Ret'd Sqn Ldr 'Jimmy' James MC, pictured here) who were involved in the Great Escape. The Memorial will be in the form of a Replica PoW Accommodation Hut which will act as an 'Education Centre' for future Service visits and as an addition to the small museum built at the site of the Great Escape in Zagan, Poland.

After digging the first escape tunnel of World War Two, Jimmy James became a digging legend in the German Stalag Luft prison camps. He went on to be a central figure in The Great Escape, dug his way out of Sachsenhausen Concentration Camp and spent 6 months in solitary confinement. Via Flossenburg Concentration Camp and Dachau, Jimmy had a personal death warrant signed by Hitler and Himmler. This project will help to preserve these and other heroic acts from WWII.

The project welcomes company donations or you can contribute by buying a plank of wood for the hut (£10) or grouping together to buy a panel (£100). Your name will then be added to a plaque/scroll which will be held at the museum site.

Please send your donations to: Flt Lt T Barlow (Project Leader), (Tel: 01494 497805), TDF, 3 Site, RAF High Wycombe, Walters Ash, Bucks, HP14 4UE.

Cheques should be made to SFAS RAF High Wycombe. All donations to reach the project leader as soon as possible.

If the total sum of money is not raised, the remaining money will be donated to the Great Escape Museum, Zagan, Poland.

Money raised so far: £25,560

Total money left to raise: £30,000

20 July 2007

Happy reunion.

Recently Mr Allen Billam enjoyed a visit to BBMF, hosted by Cpl Norman Pringle. Allen said that his time in the RAF was one of the most momentous periods of his life and as there were now very few people with whom he could enjoy a knowledgeable conversation about his experiences and the aircraft he flew he was delighted to visit the Flight.

Former Flying Officer Allen Billam (now aged 84) joined the RAF in September 1941. He trained in Canada and over the next few years flew a wide variety of aircraft including:

Tiger Moth, Harvard, Miles Master, Hurricane (marks 1, 2 & 4), Defiant, Oxford, and Lysander before settling on Typhoons. He started operational flying with 609 Squadron (West Riding) in June 1944 just before D-day. He saw action in France, Belgium, Holland and Germany. At the cessation of hostilities he had carried out 94 operational sorties more or less unscathed (once getting halfway out of the cockpit intending to bail out, but thinking better of it and getting back in again). He then flew Spitfires (marks 9, 16 and 14) with 2 Squadron carrying out PRU work until his demob in September 1946.

He keeps in touch with many of his, now sadly dwindling, group of former colleagues, many of whom came from Belgium and New Zealand in what was quite an international squadron. They include Sir Ken Adams – now famous as a designer of James Bond film sets, but then one of the few German Jews flying with the RAF under his original name of Klaus Adams.

20 July 2007

Past times.

The Military Vehicle Trust Mid Lincs Branch had it's first outing on the 14 th & 15 th April with our crank up weekend at the Tumby Moorside Museum within this weekend we were offered the chance to take a convoy of vehicles (Jeeps, Daimler armoured car, weapon carriers and classic cars) to the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight. We were able during the tour to go into the Dakota, and sit in the Spitfires & Hurricanes (If only the Lancaster had been back from it's major overhaul). The weather was extremely hot for April (80+) which made a couple of vehicles vapour lock, the Daimler armoured car and the Humber Hawk Classic Car, so we had to leave them just outside the main gate until they recovered. About 30 members of the Trust turned up and were hosted by SGT Mark Arnold, who is also a member of the Mid Lincs Branch and J/T Pete Knight.

Photos By Simon Morris

20 July 2007

Royal International Air Tattoo pictures.

The pictures from the BBMF's appearance and special formation at the Royal International Air Tattoo at Fairford are now on line. Many thanks to Cliff Ibell for his excellent images. You can see the images by clicking here.

19 July 2007

History Reunites Air and Land Forces.

In June, Officers from The 2nd Battalion The Parachute Regiment Battle Group (2
PARA) visited RAF Coningsby and specifically 11 (Typhoon) Squadron on the first part
of what we hope will become a lasting affiliation.  2 PARA and 11 Sqn are both due to serve in Afghanistan next year will be working together operationally in future and the visit incorporated a number of cross briefs on capabilities and equipment, a trip to the simulator and the highlight; a flight for two 2 PARA soldiers in a Typhoon. No trip to RAF Coningsby would be complete without a visit to the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight and the visit was particularly pertinent given the Battalion's association with the Dakota (as seen in the photograph).  In sum, an absolutely superb visit which has engendered a real camaraderie with 11 Sqn in particular, which we will carry forward into current and future operational theatres. to operations in Afghanistan next year and beyond.

Douglas C47 (DC3) Dakota ZA947 was manufactured in March 1942. The Dakota is a year-round workhorse for the BBMF being used in a variety of roles, including general support tasks, such as transporting groundcrew and equipment to display venues or other operating airfields. Importantly, as there are no other multi-engine tail wheel-configured aircraft in RAF service outside the BBMF, she is used for training aircrew for the BBMF multi-engine aircraft and in keeping the pilots of the Lancaster current on a multi-engine tailwheel aircraft during the winter months when the bomber is out of action.

Increasingly, though, the Dakota has become a display aircraft in her right and now appears regularly on the airshow circuit either on her own or as part of a BBMF 3-ship formation, in company with a pair of fighters. She continues to be capable of para-dropping and is used in that role for special commemorative events. During 2004, original and authentic 'para-seats' were re-fitted to the Dakota, returning the cabin interior to the original, wartime specification.

Dakota ZA947 currently wears the livery of 267 'Pegasus' Squadron, which flew in the Transport, Trooping and Re-supply roles in the Middle East and the Mediterranean Theatres during 1943/44..

(Photographs taken by SAC Mark Dixon, RAF Coningsby Photographic Section)

06 July 2007

Exercise Purple Summer.

A group of Officer Cadets from University London Air Squadron (ULAS) visited the BBMF on 3 July 2007 as part of Ex Purple Summer. The exercise is a continuous training exercise and students are selected to lead specific events to give them opportunities to gain individual experience in leadership, problem solving and team work. The ULAS has given BBMF a lot of support at various events during the 50 th display season and were fortunate enough to be granted permission to fly on the Dakota during a routine training flight.

05 July 2007

Operation Wildhorn III - 267 Squadron Dakota into Poland - July 1944.

This is the story of a remarkable mission carried out by a No 267 Squadron Dakota based at Brindisi, Italy during July 1944. The BBMF Dakota currently wears the markings of 267 Squadron, with the Pegasus symbol on both sides of the nose.

In early 1944, the Polish Home Army had acquired parts of a German V2 rocket and needed to get them to the UK for examination. In addition, important Polish leaders also required transportation out of occupied Poland. The operation, code named WILDHORN III, was tasked to the RAF's No 267 Squadron, then based at Brindisi in Italy, operating the C47 Dakota. The highly-secret mission was to fly into occupied Poland and bring five personnel and the rocket parts back to Italy, from where they would be flown to England. One of the Squadron's most experienced Dakota captains, Flt Lt Stanley Culliford, a New Zealander, was given the important task.

At 2000 hours on 25 July 1944, Flt Lt Culliford lifted his Dakota, KG447, off the runway at Brindisi. The aircraft was stripped of non-essential equipment and was fitted with four long-range fuel tanks. Culliford's co-pilot was Fg Off Szrajer from 1568 Polish Flight (who was also to act as liaison officer and interpreter with the Polish Resistance), the navigator was Fg Off Williams and Flt Sgt Appleby was the wireless operator. The outbound cargo was four passengers and 20 suitcases weighing 970lb.

The flight took them over the enemy-patrolled Adriatic, across Yugoslavia, up along the Hungarian-Romanian border, through Eastern Czechoslovakia and into Southern Poland. The Dakota was escorted on the first leg to Yugoslavia by a B-24 Liberator.

After a 600 mile round-about route, the navigator had the aircraft positioned over the landing ground - a small, abandoned, German airfield named Motyl, 160 miles south of Warsaw. Coincidentally, the Germans had landed two Fiesler Storch light observation aircraft at Motyl the same day, but left before the Dakota arrived.

The code letter 'O' was flashed to the darkened field and the answering flash of 'N' indicated that the field was secured for a landing. Trying to land on the dark airfield with only three small green torch lights as a landing aid (and without the benefit of modern night vision aids) proved tricky and Culliford had to abort his first approach to miss previously unseen trees on the approach. During this abort, the aircraft's landing lights and engine noise awoke the local German garrison. Some soldiers were sent to investigate but the sound of the Polish partisan's sten-guns being cocked in the darkness around them persuaded the Germans that the best course of action was to ignore what was happening and return to the barracks.

Culliford made a successful landing on the second approach and, once the aircraft had come to a halt and been shut down, the unloading and loading of passengers and freight commenced. Although the mission was supposed to be highly secret, the Dakota crew were amazed to see what appeared to be most of the local population on the field, assisting or watching the proceedings.

Within 15 minutes the V2 rocket parts and the five passengers were aboard and the engines were re-started. Then things started to go wrong as the Dakota refused to move even with maximum boost applied. The tail lifted off the ground but there was no forward motion. The co-pilot was sent to investigate and reported that he did not think they were bogged down. Culliford left the cockpit to check for himself. He was hampered by the darkness but thought that the wheels had sunk only slightly into the ground, which seemed firm, so he concluded that the prime problem was seized wheel brakes. The partisans now reported that the Germans were finally starting to take an interest in the noise at the field and that, unless they left at once, the aircraft would have to be abandoned. In view of the urgency of the situation, Culliford borrowed a knife from one of the partisans and severed the hydraulic lines to the wheel brakes in an attempt to free them, but the aircraft still refused to move. The crew knew that destroying the aircraft was fast becoming the only option but delayed the decision to re-examine the situation.

On further investigation it was found that the wheels had sunk deeper than originally thought so the engines were shut down, a spade was quickly found and each wheel was dug out. The passengers were reloaded and the engines started again. Using maximum boost the aircraft slewed slightly to starboard and then stopped. The crew now prepared to destroy the aircraft and the wireless operator tore up his code book and placed it in a position where, when set alight, it would aid the destruction of the aircraft.

With the urgency of the mission still foremost in their minds, the crew persuaded the Poles to spend a further 30 minutes digging out the main wheels and this time, when the engines were run up, the Dakota came free. Having no brakes, Culliford taxied the aircraft in circles looking for the partisans' torches, which, it had been planned, would provide a flare path for the take-off, but the Poles had taken up defensive positions around the airfield and there were no lights to be seen. Using his landing lights as a guide, Culliford lined the aircraft up on a rough heading towards a green light at the far end of the airfield. As the aircraft started its take-off run, it swung violently port towards a stone wall but Culliford was able to correct this and set off towards the green light. Ploughing through soft earth, the Dakota eventually staggered into the air just above stalling speed, only just clearing a ditch at the end of the airfield. They had been on the ground in occupied Poland for one hour and five minutes.

Once airborne, the undercarriage could not be raised because of the severed hydraulic lines. Fuel and time limitations meant that they could not fly the distance back to Italy with the undercarriage down, so water from the emergency rations was poured into the hydraulic reservoir to provide sufficient pressure to raise the wheels using the emergency hand pump.

Because of the delays on the ground, a more direct route back was needed to avoid German-occupied territories by daylight. This course took them close to areas infested by German night fighters. However, while several night fighters were spotted, none attacked the lone Dakota and they cleared the Yugoslavian coast before sun-up.

The adventure was not over yet because, on arrival at Brindisi, a strong crosswind made landing on the single runway without wheel brakes inadvisable. Fortunately a second runway, still under construction, was well positioned for the winds. The undercarriage was lowered using the emergency gravity system and the flaps were pumped down, using the remaining water in the hydraulic system. A successful landing was made on the unfinished second runway at 0550 hours, nine hours and fifty minutes after they had taken off from Brindisi.

The V2 parts were sent on to London, arriving on 28 July. With other material already obtained, the parts and accompanying information gave the Allies valuable intelligence on the V2 rocket programme.

During his operational tour with 267 Squadron, Flt Lt Culliford carried out many supply missions to partisans in Yugoslavia, France, Poland and Greece. He was awarded the DSO in 1944 for "numerous operations against the enemy, in the course of which he invariably displayed the utmost fortitude, courage and devotion to duty". For his missions over Poland he was awarded the Virtuti Militari (Poland). Stanley Culliford survived the war and in 1968 he was awarded the Cross of the Order of Polonia Restituta, a Polish resistance medal. He returned to Poland three times after the war; on his last visit in 1989, the Poles had erected a memorial at the site of his July 1944 landing, as a tribute to his dedication to the task that night.

Written by Clive Rowley (sourced from an article published in RNZAF News in 1993)

05 July 2007

50th Anniversary pictures.

The pictures from the BBMF's 50th Anniversary day at Duxford are now on line. Many thanks to all the photographers who sent in images, particularly to Julian Humphries, who worked hard to capture the spirit of the day. You can see all the images by clicking here.

01 July 2007

St George Stows Away!

The Battle of Britain Memorial Flight had a special passenger stowed on board the Lancaster on Saturday 16 June 2007 as she flew over Buckingham Palace in celebration of her Majesty the Queen's Birthday.

The Loving Cup of England with St George sculpted on the cover was flown as part of its first grand tour of England during which the cup has travelled over 6000 miles, visiting 50 English cities. The cup has been painstakingly constructed by craftsmen and is to replicate a tradition from the Middle Ages when a loving cup filled with spiced wine was passed around the table clockwise at weddings and other feasts. This English tradition symbolises trust and friendship between all those involved.

The crews of the RAF Battle of Britain Memorial Flight were delighted to be involved in the recreation of this tradition bringing people together in one common celebration of peace and friendship by passing the cup across London on this special occasion.

25 June 2007

Just another day at the office.

This shot was taken by SAC Mark Dixon on 16 June 07, as the aircraft taxied out to take off for the Queens Birthday FlyPast.

17 June 2007

A Chippie off the old block?

What better way to follow in your father's footsteps than to begin your flying career in the same aircraft he did! On 11 June 07, George Offer, an air cadet from 2071 Sqn had the opportunity to fly in one of BBMF's Chipmunks with Sqn Ldr Al Pinner, OC BBMF. George's father, Wing Cdr (Retired) Andy Offer joined the RAF in 1984 at the age of 18 and during his career had the honour of being the Red arrows Leader and OC 4 Sqn at RAF Cottesmore with Harrier GR7's. He has now retired from the RAF but carries on his love for flying by leading the civilian aerobatic display team, the Blades.

George has ambitions of joining the RAF as a pilot just like his father and has a great aptitude for flying. BBMF wish him good luck for his future career.

14 June 2007

Zumbach's "Donald" lives again!

As many will know, the 2007 display season sees Spitfire Mk Vb AB910 appear in the markings of 'Zumbach's Donald' the personal mount of Sqn Ldr Jan Zumbach. As Commanding Officer of 303 Sqn (Kosciuszko), Zumbach was accredited with 13¹/3 kills and is acknowledged as one of the greatest Polish fighter pilots of WWII.

Whenever a BBMF aircraft is treated to a new paint scheme, the public are always interested in how that particular squadron or individual markings are decided. Firstly, when possible, current operational squadrons are preferred as in the case of the last Lancaster and Hurricane schemes. In the case of the Lancaster it always represents a 'Ton Up' Lancaster that has completed 100 missions. Suggestions are put forward to OC BBMF, usually from members of the Flight or veteran aircrew associations. The short list is then researched with particular pilots or squadron histories noted before a the final choice is decided.

In the case of 'Zumbach's Donald' although not a current squadron, the squadron history represents a time when the Polish Air Force would not be defeated but continued to fight for their freedom and ours. 303 Sqn epitomises the ethos we seek to engender in today's Royal Air Force. The aircraft is a particular colourful Spitfire with an illustrious individual history.

Once the aircraft identity is decided upon, as much information as possible is gathered together in particular original photographs to guarantee the finish is accurate. Usually at this time the aircraft is in the extensive winter maintenance phase ensuring that it is mechanically sound and that all preventative repairs are completed before the paint scheme is applied.

For 'Zumbach's Donald' a dedicated team of RAF painters worked from engineering drawings and photographs collected , sprayed the body work to the exact WWII markings. Mr Clive Denny from Vintage Fabrics Ltd painstakingly hand painted the extensive nose art.

Rolled out from the paint shop in March the aircraft will remain as 'Zumbach's Donald' for about the next four years when the whole process will start again to find a new paint scheme.

Cpl Neil Clegg

23 May 2007

All ready for the big day at Duxford!

The Battle of Britain Memorial Flight's 50th anniversary celebration will take place tomorrow, 5 May 2007, at Duxford, home of the Imperial War Museum's aviation and land warfare exhibitions, and a former wartime RAF station. Today saw the Flight's aircraft all arrive at the Cambridgeshire airfield ready for the display, which will take place before an invited audience of VIP guests, veterans of the RAF and former members of the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight, as well as the general public.

Press and television cameras were there to see the aircraft arrive and to interview the Flight's personnel. Tracey Woods of IWM Duxford and Jeanette O'Connell, the Flight's PRO, made sure that the media event went very smoothly. Tracey and Jeanette have also been working very hard to plan the whole of the 50th anniversary display, a unique event in the Flight's history.

The display will include the original four fighters of the flight in a formation display as well as the unique sight of the entire flight airborne together. There will be talks by experts on the aircraft of the flight, a meet the pilots centre, book signings by authors and veterans from the Second World War and a chance to walk the flight line for that close up view of these famous aircraft. The Central Band of the Royal Air Force will perform a sunset ceremony as the Lancaster, resplendent in her new colour scheme, flies past in salute. The RAF's Parachute Display Team, the Falcons, will drop from the Flight's Dakota and the RAF's latest fighter, the Typhoon, will also be joining in the celebration of 50 years of the services' flying memorial to those who failed to return.

Lest we forget.

04 May 2007

First air to air photographs of the Lancaster.

The first air to air shots of Lancaster PA474 wearing her new colours of 100 and 550 Squadrons as 'The Phantom of the Ruhr' are peproduced here by kind permission of the photographer, Andrea Featherby. Piloted by Stu Reid and Ed Straw, she set off to Rotterdam for a weekend of flypasts commemorating Op Manna and flying over various war cemeteries in Holland. Comments and feedback of the events are shown on the guestbook and I am delighted that the flypasts meant so much to everyone.

30 April 2007

The 50th Anniversary season begins!

Friday 27 March saw the launch of the 50th anniversary season for the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight at their home base at RAF Coningsby in Lincolnshire. In front of a large crowd of invited guests, including members of the crews who flew the original aircraft, the Lancaster was unveiled in her new colour scheme for the 2007 season, that of the 100 and 550 Squadron aircraft, "The Phantom of the Ruhr". The Spitfire Mk IIa and Mk V were also in the hangar in their new colours, that of a 603 and 303 Squadron aircraft respectively.

The unveiling ceremony and blessing took place in the morning, music for the event being provided by the Band of the RAF Regiment from RAF Cranwell. This was followed by a gala lunch for all the crews and members of the BBMF Association. The Lancaster then flew its first formal display in the new colour scheme for the large numbers of television and press journalists gathered to report on the event. Prior to this, Ron Clarke, the pilot of the "Phantom" when it was on the strength of 100 Squadron, presented Flt Lt Ed Straw, one of the Lancaster pilots this year, with his original Second World War RAF uniform battledress jacket. It fitted Ed perfectly, and he intends wearing it as often as possible at airshows this year!

This was followed by a very rare event, something that will happen for the first time in front of the public at the 50th Anniversary display on 5th May at Duxford. The original four fighters that formed the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight, one of which is now owned and operated by Rolls Royce, flew a four-ship formation display that was breathtaking in its power and accuracy. Sqn Ldr Al Pinner, Sqn Ldr Ian Smith, Gp Capt Russ Allchorne and Rolls Royce test-pilot Phil O'Dell flew a spectacular routine that was met with great applause as the fighters taxied past the crowd.

The outstanding day ended with the veteran aircrew of the "Phantom" being driven away in a pair of Rolls Royce Phantoms, a perfect end to an exciting day and a memorable launch to the Flight's season.

The photographs of the day are kindly supplied by Philip Jones and Tim Callaway.

27 April 2007

Heroes of Telemark.

Lancaster Bomber pilot, Flt Lt Ed Straw followed in the footsteps of heroes when he retraced the route of the 'Heroes of Telemark' exactly 64 years after they carried out their famous raid. On the night of February 27th 1943 one of the most daring and audacious sabotage raids in the history of warfare took place on the Norsk Hydroelectric plant at Vemork in German occupied Norway. The stakes could not have been higher. The destruction of the plant was vital because it was here that the World's only significant stocks of 'heavy water' were being produced, a resource vital to the Nazis quest to develop an atomic weapon. The Vemork plant lay in a remote valley, approximately 150 miles west of Oslo, close to the town of Rjukan. The plant was thought to be virtually impregnable, jutting out of a cliff above a steep gorge and nestling at the foot of the Hardangervidda, the largest high plateau wilderness in Europe and home to some of the most inhospitable terrain and ferocious weather found anywhere.

By mid 1942 Churchill, alarmed by intelligence reports of increased production at the plant, considered the destruction of the 'heavy water' essential and instructed the Special Operations Executive (SOE) to carry out the operation. On 19th October 1942 four Norwegian Commandos were parachuted into the region on a mission codenamed 'Operation Grouse' This was followed on 19 November 1942 by 'Operation Freshman' the first glider-borne operation of the war, dropping 30 British Royal Engineer Commandos to sabotage the production of heavy water. The Commandos were to be transported to the region in two Horsa gliders towed by Halifax bombers, but the operation was poorly planned and had little chance of success. In the hostile freezing conditions, suffering equipment failure, both gliders and one Halifax crashed causing death and terrible injury. The 7 Halifax crew, 4 glider pilots, and 7 of the 30 Commandos were killed in the crash. All the surviving 23 Commandos were killed by the Gestapo, 19 were shot, and 4 brutally tortured and murdered; only one Halifax returned. The Grouse team however remained intact and another mission to support them was mounted called 'Operation Gunnerside' with the dropping of 6 more Norwegian Commandos on 16 February 1943. Meanwhile, the Grouse team, now called 'Swallow' had been struggling to stay alive, living unsupported for weeks on the Hardangervidda through one of the most severe winters ever known. It was only through innovation and sheer endurance that they managed to survive for weeks living on little more than moss and lichen. The two teams finally met up and on the night of 27 February 1943 were ready to mount their attack. The assault team had moved up to a hut at Fjosbudalen and at 20.00hrs, dressed as British Commandos to prevent reprisals, commenced their descent into the valley. The Germans had considered the gorge impossible to cross and so believed any attack would have to come via the suspension bridge spanning the gorge and leading to the plant. Claus Helberg however