Lanc repaint?

While for from my best ever BBMF photos (focus is a tad soft unfortunately and angle of sun not ideal), these are at Southport Seafront Air Show, Saturday 8th Sept. Shows that PA474 now has the same squadron codes on both sides, with nose art on port side only, the City of Lincoln crest still on starboard.

Thanks for those- she looks great now!

While not my best ever BBMF photo (focus is a tad soft unfortunately), these are at Southport Seafront Air Show, Saturday 8th Sept. Shows that PA474 now has the same squadron codes on both sides, with nose art on one side only, the City of Lincoln crest still on starboard.

With the number of bomber squadrons, noteworthy aircraft and notable crews (I use the term slightly cautiously, IMHO any Bomber Command crew is as notable as the next), the relative similarity of most of the paint schemes (minor differences in the black/brown/green pattern), it is a shame they can’t change the identity of the aircraft on a yearly or bi-annual basis.

What I’d like to see: A Pathfinder scheme from a notable (again cautiously used!) Sqn, 582 Sqn. Bob Palmer VC’s final crew and Ted Swales VC (and his crew) were both of 582 Sqn.

It would be a slightly different Sqn code to see too. I don’t think PA474 has ever commemorated a Sqn with a numerical Sqn code (582 was “60” IIRC).

PB371, 60-V would get my vote, Flt Lt Owen Milne’s aircraft, which Palmer was flying on the day they were lost.

At about this time my uncle was flying Meteors out of Leuchars, briefly at Newton, Festival of Britain, getting married and the Staff College at Bracknell. So could be anywhere.

Leuchars is a good shout, correct type Austerity C hangar (same type at Newton & Kinloss) aligns well with the 4 bay trailer/tanker shed, and what looks like main stores beyond.
I’ve never seen a white SMR Lancaster looking so clean (apart from Coronation examples), so wondering if visiting a BoB day or fresh from an MU or paint somewhere.

Whilst on the subject thought I’d share this take on it.

Would love to see Coastal Command scheme or all white but am not holding my breath.

Whilst not complaining about the ‘Thumper’ scheme, what’s the issue with the ‘Phantom’?

Lovely picture Mark12 – where was it taken? St Eval? Looks a bit more like Kinloss methinks…

Do you have any taken at St Eval (or elsewhere for that matter) that you would be willing to post?

Thanks!

At about this time my uncle was flying Meteors out of Leuchars, briefly at Newton, Festival of Britain, getting married and the Staff College at Bracknell. So could be anywhere.

Apart from some of the Lancs on the ground at Odiham for the Coronation review that is the only Lancaster shot in the albums.

I note the Lanc has the covers on the tyres so not just passing through.

Mark

Was this Thumper number 1?
[ATTACH]208059[/ATTACH]
Unknown AW Whitley and pilot

“holding a foaming pint of beer.”

Blimey I thought it was a Fairy Cake!!

Pics and aircraft history now on BBMF .com!

I would kind of like silver fins with a red ‘V’ and the Virgin flying lady nose art on her – maybe a flight of fantasy but the way money is with Mod who knows!

There’s a few more pictures up on the BBMF facebook page, too. The fresh black around the squadron codes kinda shows a bit, but this fan is still delighted to see the surprise change of scheme. 🙂

White Lanc…very nice…very different…and very unlikely.

A shot from my uncle’s album circa 1953.

Mark

Lovely picture Mark12 – where was it taken? St Eval? Looks a bit more like Kinloss methinks…

Do you have any taken at St Eval (or elsewhere for that matter) that you would be willing to post?

Thanks!

How much did they have to pay the Disney Corporation to be allowed to apply that image?

Close up of the nose art as seen at Coningsby today

THUMPER MKIII by Gaz “Ghastly Whisper” West, on Flickr

I personally would like to see a repaint in the colours of one of the many unsung crews who only lasted a few, or even only one mission. This is after all a Memorial Flight and there is too much emphasis on Lancs which achieved high mission numbers.

As I’ve said before, I think it doesn’t always need to be a centenarian Lanc, and this fab new scheme is certainly a departure from that quite long-established approach, so that’s fab. But as well as primarily being a memorial aircraft, there must surely also be considerations as to schemes that look good visually for the public, and dare I say it, which are even PC for the modern RAF- I mean, I can’t imagine that we’ll ever see any semi-clad ladies painted on PA474!

Can’t see the BBMF nose art at the mo but its doing circuits outside my office at Cranwell right now-Lovely!

The Lancaster without nose art is pretty eye catching too !

re;

I understand but nose art is more eye catching