LANCASTER NX611 – 'DOUBLE ANNIVERSARY' REUNION EVENT

LANCASTER NX611 – ‘DOUBLE ANNIVERSARY’ REUNION EVENT

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TIME’S UP !!!!!!! THE EXTENDED ‘DEADLINE’ OF SUNDAY 3RD APRIL 2005 HAS PASSED. 🙁

I THANK THOSE PEOPLE WHO RESPONDED TO THIS INVITATION – MORE DETAILS WILL BE SENT TO YOU INDIVIDUALLY. 😉

WITH REGARDS TO ANY OTHER ‘ELIGIBLE’ PEOPLE, WHO DISCOVER THIS FORUM THREAD IN THE WEEKS TO COME, WHO WOULD LIKE TO ATTEND EAST KIRKBY ON 14th MAY 2005 – THE REUNION IS ‘OPEN’ TO ALL OF YOU. THE ONLY DIFFERENCE TO THOSE WHO HAVE REGISTERED THEIR ACCEPTANCE OF THE INVITATION BY THE DEADLINE COULD BE THE FACT THAT IT CANNOT BE GUARANTEED THAT THEY WILL BE ABLE TO BENEFIT FROM SOME OF THE DAY’S ACTIVITIES 😮 (i.e THE POSSIBILITY OF WINNING A CHANCE TO EXPERIENCE A ‘TAXI RIDE’ IN “JUST JANE” !! ) 😡

MARTIN COLLINS and I WOULD BOTH LIKE TO THANK ALL OF YOU WHO CONTACTED US TO ACCEPT THEIR INVITATIONS TO THE REUNION. WE’RE SURE IT’S GOING TO BE AN UNFORGETABLE EVENT.

I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO EXPRESS OUR SINCERE THANKS FOR THE KIND WORDS THAT HAVE BEEN POSTED ON THIS THREAD.

See you at East Kirkby

Very Best Wishes 🙂

Richard

FINAL CALL – ONLY 36 HOURS LEFT TO ACCEPT INVITATION

😮 JUST ANOTHER REMINDER THAT THERE ARE ONLY ABOUT 36 HOURS LEFT FOR ANY OF YOU FORMER H.A.P.S. / REFLECTAIRE LTD PRESERVATIONISTS / VOLUNTEER HELPERS TO REGISTER YOUR INTENTION TO ACCEPT OUR INVITATION TO ATTEND THE “DOUBLE ANNIVERSARY” CELEBRATORY REUNION AT EAST KIRKBY ON SATURDAY 14th MAY 2005 😉

ONCE AGAIN, IF ANYONE WISHING TO ATTEND PREFERS NOT TO POST A REPLY DIRECTLY ON THIS ‘FORUM THREAD’ THEN PLEASE MAKE URGENT CONTACT WITH THE EVENT’S ORGANISER ‘MARTIN COLLINS’ ON HIS MOBILE PHONE NUMBER (07977 – 046727).

AS A FINAL ‘SALUTE’ TO THOSE WHO GAVE THEIR VALUABLE TIME (Mostly Voluntary and Largely Unpaid), BLOOD (Yes some was spilt!!), SWEAT (by the ‘bucket’!) AND (Not Inconsiderable) TEARS IN THE 1960s AND 1970s TO ENSURE THAT LANCASTER ‘NX611’ (G-ASXX) WAS SAVED FOR THE NATION (DESPITE THE INEVITABLE MAGNETIC LURE OF THAT LAND ACROSS THE ‘BIG POND’ !!) AND THAT SHE TOOK TO THE AIR AGAIN AFTER HER HISTORIC RETURN TO THESE SHORES IN 1965, I HAVE POSTED THREE MORE SHOTS OF THIS MAGNIFICENT AIRCRAFT FOR EVERYONE TO ADMIRE AND CHERISH.

The First : As ‘G-ASXX’ – Arriving at Biggin Hill on 13th May 1965;
The Second : As ‘NX611’ (‘Guy Gibson’ – Coded ‘HA-P’) – Arriving Overhead Lavenham Airfield, Suffolk on 30th March 1969; and
The Third : As ‘NX611’ (‘Guy Gibson’ – Coded ‘GL-C’) – Taking Off from Lavenham Airfield, Suffolk on 7th February 1970.

ENJOY !!!!

Cheers, 😉

Richard

LAST FEW DAYS TO REGISTER INTEREST IN ATTENDING REUNION

😮 JUST A REMINDER THAT THERE ARE ONLY 3 MORE DAYS LEFT FOR ANY OF YOU FORMER H.A.P.S. / REFLECTAIRE LTD PRESERVATIONISTS / VOLUNTEER HELPERS TO REGISTER YOUR INTENTION TO ACCEPT OUR INVITATION TO ATTEND THE “DOUBLE ANNIVERSARY” CELEBRATORY REUNION AT EAST KIRKBY ON SATURDAY 14th MAY 2005 😉

🙂 THE FOLLOWING ‘NOTICE’ HAS JUST BEEN PUBLISHED IN THE MAY 2005 EDITION OF ‘FLYPAST’ (IN THE SHOPS NOW!!)

IF ANYONE WISHING TO ATTEND WOULD PREFER NOT TO POST A REPLY DIRECTLY ON THIS ‘FORUM THREAD’ THEN PLEASE CONTACT MARTIN COLLINS ON THE MOBILE PHONE NUMBER GIVEN IN THE ‘NOTICE’.

Cheers,

Richard

(Image courtesy of Key Publications Ltd – Flypast Magazine)

Richard
Thanks for the pics, some of those you posted are pics we don’t have. I will try to take some more today as I have to move her to get at the mustang for its inspection. Maybe I will drag her outside if this snow goes …………………………(etc.)
regards Mike

I bet the snow covered Montana scenery looks really fabulous. 😎 Hope you managed to give ‘441 an airing today – would love to see more photos.

Please keep them coming.

Kind Regards

Richard

Richard
Thanks for the pics, some of those you posted are pics we don’t have. I will try to take some more today as I have to move her to get at the mustang for its inspection. Maybe I will drag her outside if this snow goes by afternoon. It is not quite spring yet, even though the calendar says it is. The inspection is due in May on the seafire, got to get it done before or after Laurence is here.
regards Mike

Here she is waiting for spring
Mike

Thanks for posting, Mike.

Just gazing at this beaut. tells me “SPRING HAS REALLY SPRUNG !!!!!!!” 🙂 😀

Can’t wait for the flying season to get underway and look forward to more of your great pics.

My chum Laurie Bean (‘Lauriebe’) tells me he’s scheduled to visit Montana and meet up in person with this graceful lady in May. I can hardly contain my ‘jealous streak’!!!! 😎

Please keep the photos coming.

Very Best Wishes

Richard

Here she is waiting for spring
Mike

Thanks Mike. Looking immaculate as usual.

BR,

Laurie.

Here she is waiting for spring
Mike

MEMORIES FOR ‘TILLEYDOG’

Hi there Geoff.

You remember talking on a previous Forum thread (‘Neil Williams’ I believe it was) –
http://forum.keypublishing.co.uk/showthread.php?t=18439&highlight=Neil+Williams

…….about my having been on the photo chase-plane (G-AWCY) with your (then) partner, and that you were one of the lucky ones to fly as passenger in Lanc. NX611 from RAF Hullavington to Blackpool – well, guess what ……..

I’ve just come across my photos from those days and scanned them on to my PC. 😉

HAVE A LOOK AT THESE PHOTOS. DO YOU RECOGNISE ANYONE!!! ? :confused:

Cheers 🙂

Richard

CALLING ALL AVIATION PRESERVATIONISTS WHO WERE ACTIVE MEMBERS OF THE ‘HISTORIC AIRCRAFT PRESERVATION SOCIETY’ (HAPS) AND / OR ‘REFLECTAIRE LTD’ (REFLECTAIRE PRESERVATION GROUP) DURING 1960s / 1970s – BIGGIN HILL / LAVENHAM / RAF HULLAVINGTON / BLACKPOOL (SQUIRES GATE) :-
Because of the need to get some idea of numbers hoping to attend on 14th May, I would be grateful for early responses.

I AM THEREFORE HAVING TO SET A CUT-OFF DATE OF SUNDAY 27th MARCH 2005 FOR REGISTERING INTEREST.

JUST A BRIEF REMINDER THAT THE ORIGINAL CUT-OFF DATE FOR REGISTERING INTEREST IN ATTENDING OUR REUNION AT EAST KIRKBY WAS DUE TO EXPIRE TOMORROW (27/3). 🙁

IT HAS BEEN AGREED TO EXTEND THIS FOR A FURTHER 7 DAYS, I.E. UNTIL SUNDAY 3RD APRIL 2005 TO ALLOW FOR ANY ‘LATECOMERS’ TO READ THIS FORUM THREAD AND RESPOND. 😉

MEANWHILE, HERE’S A FEW FACES FROM THE PAST !!

WERE YOU ONE OF THESE AIR TRAINING CORP. / GVC CADETS WHO SERVED AS A ‘GUARD OF HONOUR’ ON THE ARRIVAL OF LANC. NX611 AT LAVENHAM AIRFIELD ON 30th MARCH 1969 ?

[IMG]

IF YOU CAN IDENTIFY ANYONE FROM THESE PHOTOS PLEASE LET THAT PERSON KNOW THAT WE’RE ANXIOUS TO INVITE THEM TO ATTEND OUR REUNION, SO I NEED TO KNOW HOW TO MAKE CONTACT.

Best Wishes

Richard

Hi Richard,

The unit concerned was MARTSU, Mobile Aircraft Repair, Transport and Salvage Unit. Lee sounds about right for the base.

I believe that this was the same unit that collected ‘441 from my old ATC Sqn in Plymouth during January 1964.

Don’t have any other info I’m afraid.

BR

Laurie.

I knew I could always rely on my ‘old chum’ Laurie to come up trumps again!!

My old paper records show MATSU, but I’ll gladly bow to your knowledge on this one. I’ve been trying to search the FAA / RN websites for info. on this unit, to no avail I’m afraid.

I’ve been trying another tack, with a couple of threads published on the ‘Navy’ sub-forum of this Aviation Forum http://forum.keypublishing.co.uk/showthread.php?t=40075&goto=newpost to see if anyone there can shed any light on the Unit.

I’ve had one reply, from “Jonesy” (Steve) who has aimed me at a website for a Lee on Solent (HMS Daedalus) group preserving the base’s history (http://www.fleetairarmarchive.net/Daedalus/Contacts.html) , but I’ve not yet been able to enter the Forum on that site – keep receiving error pop-ups !!

I’ll keep trying, though I can’t hold out too much hope of making contact with any of the RN crew who transported VP441 to Lavenham in 1969. Pity as I’d love to extend the invitation to them to attend the reunion – they did, after all play quite an important part in the history of Reflectaire Preservation Group. Without their expertise the re-assembly of the Seafire at Lavenham would have been a daunting task. We had very little equipment on site at Lavenham Airfield in those days so their services were really invaluable.

Thanks again Laurie for your contribution.

Speak again soon I hope.

Best Wishes

Richard

SINCE POSTING THIS REQUEST I’VE BEEN SEARCHING MY PERSONAL RECORDS OF THE TIME (1969) AGAIN (MORE CLOSELY !!) AND IT SEEMS LIKELY THAT THE RN CREW WHO TRANSPORTED AND RE-ASSEMBLED THE SEAFIRE AT LAVENHAM, SUFFOLK IN JULY 1969 MAY NOT HAVE BEEN FROM RNAS CULDROSE BUT ACTUALLY FROM:

ROYAL NAVY’s “MATSU”, BASED AT LEE ON SOLENT, HAMPSHIRE (AT THAT TIME)

CAN ANYONE WITH MORE KNOWLEDGEABLE INFORMATION ON THAT ‘UNIT’ PLEASE HELP ME OUT.

What exactly was a ‘MATSU’ ? Was it ‘Maintenance and Transport Support Unit’, or what? (I’m purely guessing here!!!!!). :confused: 😀

Can’t seem to find any ‘historical’ information on this unit on searching the Royal Navy / Fleet Air Arm websites

ANY INFORMATION ON THIS WILL BE OF GREAT HELP IN TRYING TO TRACE THESE PEOPLE. (I’M ALSO TRYING TO GET HELP VIA ANOTHER FORUM THREAD http://forum.keypublishing.co.uk/showthread.php?t=40075 )

MANY THANKS 🙂

Richard

Hi Richard,

The unit concerned was MARTSU, Mobile Aircraft Repair, Transport and Salvage Unit. Lee sounds about right for the base.

I believe that this was the same unit that collected ‘441 from my old ATC Sqn in Plymouth during January 1964.

Don’t have any other info I’m afraid.

BR

Laurie.

Anyone got any names for the Royal Navy (RNAS Culdrose) lads in this 3rd photo (assisted in the Seafire’s re-assembly at Lavenham 20 / 21 July 1969)
[IMG](I’ve also posted 6 close-ups to assist identification)

Would love for them to make contact re the East Kirkby reunion.[/B][/COLOR]

SINCE POSTING THIS REQUEST I’VE BEEN SEARCHING MY PERSONAL RECORDS OF THE TIME (1969) AGAIN (MORE CLOSELY !!) AND IT SEEMS LIKELY THAT THE RN CREW WHO TRANSPORTED AND RE-ASSEMBLED THE SEAFIRE AT LAVENHAM, SUFFOLK IN JULY 1969 MAY NOT HAVE BEEN FROM RNAS CULDROSE BUT ACTUALLY FROM:

ROYAL NAVY’s “MATSU”, BASED AT LEE ON SOLENT, HAMPSHIRE (AT THAT TIME)

CAN ANYONE WITH MORE KNOWLEDGEABLE INFORMATION ON THAT ‘UNIT’ PLEASE HELP ME OUT.

What exactly was a ‘MATSU’ ? Was it ‘Maintenance and Transport Support Unit’, or what? (I’m purely guessing here!!!!!). :confused: 😀

Can’t seem to find any ‘historical’ information on this unit on searching the Royal Navy / Fleet Air Arm websites

ANY INFORMATION ON THIS WILL BE OF GREAT HELP IN TRYING TO TRACE THESE PEOPLE. (I’M ALSO TRYING TO GET HELP VIA ANOTHER FORUM THREAD http://forum.keypublishing.co.uk/showthread.php?t=40075 )

MANY THANKS 🙂

Richard

Any chance of posting them on here? Would love to see older pics of NX611 at lavenham

Hi Peter.

We’ll see what ‘Spit’ (Dave) says. I’d love to see more pics. of NX611 and the other aircraft that we had in HAPS / Reflectaire collection, and share with Forum contributors.

DO ANY OF YOU ‘FORUM’ READERS HAVE ANY UN-PUBLISHED PHOTOS OF :

Lancaster B.VII – NX611 / G-ASXX / WU15 {French Naval Air Arm, L’Aeronavale) (any of these guises) ;

Seafire FR. 47 VP441 ;

Percival Mew Gull G – AEXF ;

Canadair F.86E Sabre G – ATBF (including spurious markings ‘FU-617’ and ‘JA – 120’ ) / XB733 / MM19607

Focke-Achgelis Fa330 autogyro (For some reason I don’t have serial number recorded – anyone know?)

If any of you do have any such photos, how about posting them on this thread? I’m sure there’s enough interest on the Forum to warrant sharing with us all.

Here’s a few of mine to wet the appetite (All 3 photos – copyright R.J.A. Taylor):[IMG]

Pic.1 – Seafire (VP441) arriving on Royal Navy ‘Queen Mary’ trailer at ‘Rose and Crown’ Bridge Street, Near Alpheton, Suffolk, midday 20th July 1969, on way to Lavenham airfield from RNAS Culdrose;

Pic.2 – Seafire (VP441) arriving on Royal Navy ‘Queen Mary’ trailer at Lavenham airfield, 20th July 1969;

Pic.3 – Seafire (VP441) ‘Photo call’ – after re-assembly completed ;
Anyone got any names for the Royal Navy (RNAS Culdrose) lads in this 3rd photo (assisted in the Seafire’s re-assembly at Lavenham 20 / 21 July 1969)
[IMG](I’ve also posted 6 close-ups to assist identification)

Would love for them to make contact re the East Kirkby reunion.

lavenham pics

Any chance of posting them on here? Would love to see older pics of NX611 at lavenham

Hi RJ
Got your PM did you get the photos and n ote I emailed to you on Sat 12/3/05,if so could you let me know because if you didn’t I will re-send the photos of NX 611 at Lavenham.
All the Best
Dave (SPIT)

Hi Dave, where’ve you been ? – I’ve even had to resort to posting a separate thread on here to flush you out of hiding (only joking!! 😉 ).

Good to be back in contact. I’d been checking my Hotmail e-mail for your replies and photos, only to discover them on my other address – forgot I’d given it to you !!! (senility creeping up it seems :p ).

The 10 Lavenham pics. were received OK and I’m really grateful to you for sharing them with me – the shot of NX611 standing starkly on ‘her’ dispersal hardstanding in the snow certainly evoked vivid memories of that harsh East Anglian winter (1969/70).

I note that you won’t be able to join us at the East Kirkby reunion on 14th May. 🙁 I’m truly sorry that we won’t be meeting up after all these years. Is there absolutely no way you can change your plans for that day / weekend!! Is it conflicting personal commitments or simply the travel to Lincs. ?

If it’s the latter, we may be able to sort that out – some of our “old friends” from Blackpool / Lytham St. Annes are planning to travel east to join us at the reunion – maybe you and they could travel together. Let me know if it’s the travel aspect and I’ll see what can be arranged.

If you have any further pics. of the ‘Lavenham days’ I’d love to see them. :confused:

By the way, do I have your permission to use your shots on this Forum and elsewhere, with suitable ‘copyright credit’ displayed ? I’m sure other readers / contributors to this Forum would appreciate sharing our vintage memories. 😉

Hope to hear from you (On my personal e-mail address if you’d prefer)

Very Best Wishes, Dave

Richard

Mr. Taylor,
I am still in contact with Doug Hogarth who was with H.A.P.S. until his family moved to Kenilworth and he transferred to join the Midland A.P.S.
I will pass on details to him.
Roger Smith.

Hello Roger

I’m very grateful to you for responding to this Forum thread.

Doug’s name sounds very familiar; do you know where he lived before moving up to Kenilworth?

If you can let him know of this reunion I’d be very grateful. If he is able to attend (and is willing to give me his contact details) could you please send me a private message (‘PM’) on this Forum with his contact details and I will let the reunion organiser (Martin Collins) know.

Your help is very much appreciated.

Very Best Wishes, Roger

Richard

Hi RJ
Got your PM did you get the photos and n ote I emailed to you on Sat 12/3/05,if so could you let me know because if you didn’t I will re-send the photos of NX 611 at Lavenham.
All the Best
Dave (SPIT)

Lancaster NX611 reunion

Mr. Taylor,
I am still in contact with Doug Hogarth who was with H.A.P.S. until his family moved to Kenilworth and he transferred to join the Midland A.P.S.
I will pass on details to him.
Roger Smith.

HAVING TO RESORT AGAIN TO A QUICK “BUMP” (FOR OLD TIMES’ SAKE) 😉 !!!!!

NEED TO KEEP THREAD ‘CURRENT’ AS THE REUNION IS GETTING EVER NEARER 😎

CHEERS 😉

Richard