Sywell Aviation Museum has announced two Avro Lancaster-themed talks for early next year

The first of these on February 19, 2023, will be ‘A Tale of Two Lancs – the BBMF Lancaster and Just Jane at the Lincolnshire Aviation Heritage Centre’ by Mike Chatterton.

Including photographs and video clips, Mike describes his experiences with two Lancasters – the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight’s City of Lincoln, and East Kirkby-based Just Jane (also see FlyPast magazine, in shops now). Mike graduated from Cranwell and later flew Shackletons and Nimrods, before being posted to Coningsby in 1989 where he flew PA474. With some 460 hours on the legendary BBMF machine, he was also asked to operate the East Kirkby Lancaster when it was restored to taxiing condition in 1995, providing rides to the public. He continues to do this today and also now operates the East Kirkby-based Mosquito in similar fashion.

Then, at Sywell on March 19, Roger Kirkham and Bill Lockerbie will lead a talk titled ‘Operation Exodus and the fate of Lancaster PD339’.

On April 16, 1945, a 50 Squadron Lancaster crashed close to Delapre Home Farm in Hardingstone, Northamptonshire. The aircraft and crew were on the final leg of their journey following the repatriation of Allied POWs, as part of Operation Exodus. The talk will focus on the events leading up to this tragic crash - just one day after the cessation of bombing activities in Europe.

Each talk costs just £5 per person to attend – the venue for both is the Cirrus Room at Sywell’s Aviator Hotel. For more information, contact: sywellaviationmuseum@gmail.com