Here are three shots of PA474 that Ray Leach sent to me, some time I would estimate, in the early 1970’s .
They are entitled – ‘Arrival at Waddington’.
I seem to remember this was the transition back on to RAF charge.
Ray I think was aircrew.
Can anybody expand?
Mark
By: usernamechanged - 5th January 2005 at 19:35
Nice pictures of the Lancaster thanks for postin em
By: Bluebird Mike - 5th January 2005 at 19:09
Well said, that Hally-man!
By: HP57 - 5th January 2005 at 18:14
The earlier guises of PA474 as AJ-G and KM-B showed her in very matt finish witch looked absolutely beautiful and warlike. I was glad that after the many years of gloss finish she is now semi-matt. Of course it was all done to ensure her preservation, but it shows how far things have improved the past few years.
Long may she fly (and that from a Hally-guy :p )
Cheers
Cees
By: Peter - 5th January 2005 at 17:48
wow they are old! she looks great even without turrets!
By: Bluebird Mike - 5th January 2005 at 17:26
Yup, Ray Leach was the Lanc’s Nav for some time I think in her early display days, and was also a Vulcan Display Flight Nav at some point, too?
The above mentioned book is very well worth getting, by the way; there’s an absolute wealth of info about PA474’s early days in it.
By: Guzzineil - 5th January 2005 at 17:18
yep the pictures are in a book written by S/Ldr Ray Leach called A Lancaster At Peace which gives PA474 history up to about 1979..they show its arrival at Waddo from Henlow, the then Flt Lt Leach being the ‘Nav’ on that flight.. book is available from BBMF visitors center or via Lincs Lanc assoc…
Neil.
By: WebPilot - 5th January 2005 at 17:06
With the faired nose, this looks to have been the 1965 ferry flight from Henlow to Waddington as the front turret was reinstated during the work done at Waddington between 1965 and 1967 as the attached link shows:
http://www.raf.mod.uk/rafwaddington/images/museum/pa474/lanc5hgr.jpg
It’s amazing how different the aircraft looks without the turrets fitted!
By: andrewman - 5th January 2005 at 16:57
Nice Lanc photos Mark, were these take on PA747’s flight to Waddo prior to its rebuild by 44sqd if so then it would have been in the 60s.
Sign In
January 5, 2005 at 4:55 pm