Talk Morgan Forums Community The Malvern Arms The Lancaster Returns

This was the scene at the museum just after noon on Sunday. The ladies dressed in 1940's attire in the foreground are wives and significant others of the flight crew.
Vera is in dire need of a bath. We started in this morning on a cleanup which includes removing lead oxide deposits from the engine cowlings and the upper wing surfaces behind the engines.
The flight crew were absolutely in awe of the reception they received in England.

Brent

Great photo Brent. The crew in awe? We are in awe of them undertaking such a monumental trip. Glad they got back safely and enjoy your cleaning.....that's historical dirt that you are cleaning off Vera!

Vera flew over our heads two weeks ago, at Derwent reservoir near Sheffield. Great to see and hear.....it's a small world.

Brent , some mog owner you are I had a go at winning a seat ( if it had one ) in the Lancaster that came over from Canada for a trip of a life time . Being a fellow mog owner you could have said a mog owner must win and pull a few strings . I had my flying jacket , helmet and goggles ready even had my grand fathers old white silk scarf . My late cousin was in the RAF and ended up living in Canada ( Vancouver ) . His 2nd marriage he married a German girl and they found out her dad ( when he passed away ) had been an SS officer. Dont think his own dad would have been very happy at that .
By the way I hate flying in these modern things an old and I mean old friend told me he had looped the loop in a Tiger moth.

Great photo.
Sadly I missed it - too windy the day I went to Sywell and couldn't tie in with any other dates... "sad"

Great photo indeed.

We were lucky enough to see them fly over Lake Windermere.
Whilst they looked and sounded fantastic, it really makes you realize just how brave were the men that flew in them during WW11.
In particular the rear gunners that must have been sitting ducks to any attack.

Worthers +8

Worthers

Nobody flies in Vera's rear turret. It's too difficult to get in and out of and it's very lonely and cold back there. We only go in there during winter maintenance when the entire interior of the plane gets a good going over.

Brent

Hi Brent

I was referring to when the planes were on active service during WW11.
I think your description of the rear gunners quarters say's it all and to have planes shooting at you at the same time.........

Worthers +8

Depending which information you source; the average life expectancy of a rear gunner during WW2 was around 8 trips!!
Brave men.