Lancaster Burnt At Le Bourget (2005 Zombie)

Following Robbo’s excellent report on the progress with the Lancaster being restored at Le Bourget, I thought I would share with you a shot I took at Le Bourget in June 1969 depicting WU-34. Ironic that in those days a Lancaster was seen as suitable fodder for the fire dump, when years later a very long distance recovery was needed to retrieve the example now on site. Funny how values (behavioural and monetary) change over time isn’t it?

Hi Tim

I saw the remains of a Lancaster at Le Bourget in June 1971 but have recently been told it was WU-17 (ex RAF TW665), this apparently having been read off the wreck in 1967. On the basis of your info I uploaded my picture to Air-Britain as WU-34 but now I’m not so sure! The link to the picture is http://www.abpic.co.uk/photo/1209416/. Is this the same airframe and if so, how sure are you that it was in fact WU-34? Thank you for any help with this.

Chris

When I photographed that Aeronavale Lancaster hulk in 1969 I was accompanied by folk who had witnessed it in more complete state in earlier years and advised me of its identity from their records. I have since obtained a b&w print depicting the same machine taken earlier in the 1960s also of the port side side. The aircraft was then substantially complete and unit codes are visible on the fuselage, but the tail plane and vertical tail surfaces are already missing so I can’t confirm the individual identity I was given.

Tim

Tim, I assume the print to which you refer is the shot of the Lanc carrying code 45.6, which is thought to be WU-22 ex NX616 (see http://www.lancaster-archive.com/lanc_postwar-france.htm) – yet another possible identity!

I suppose we may never know the true identity, though WU-22 may be most likely. My informant is convinced that WU-17 was read off the wreck in 1967, but as these numbers were carried on the lower part of the fins I think that’s unlikely given the state of the wreckage.

Chris

Lancs in Oz

Yep – there is only one. See if we can think how many are preserved:

2 at Paphos
1 at Coventry
1 in the USA (Airworthy still?)
1 at Newark
1 at Long Stratton
Fuselage at Wisbech
1 at Duxford
1 at Manchester
Nose at Newark (?)

Plus 2 or 3 in South Africa

I think thats it?

Bruce

+ 1 Mk VII at Bullcreek in West Australia
+ 1 Mk I in the Australian War Memorial in Canberra

+ 1 Mk VII at Bullcreek in West Australia
+ 1 Mk I in the Australian War Memorial in Canberra

Ummmmm…. Bruce was referring to Shackletons, not Lancasters.

Cheers,
Richard

What a shame..!

Is this the crew trainer at cyprus?
http://www.demobbed.org.uk/images/wr967.jpg

As this thread now seems to be a Shackleton thread, here are the details of the S. African Shacks. There are three including the ‘Coke’ example and technically ‘Pelican 16’ is still in ‘Africa’!.

http://www.fortunecity.com/silverstone/paddock/1496/location.htm

Actually there are 4, as cestrian’s post indicates, so that website is not 100% correct. I can confirm all were still in the same places in May 2007, the Soweto one now having been repainted into Sasol oil colours.

For a picture of the remains of WR971 see below

Just to show off the one at Manchester (I have a soft spot for it as I live up this way and I was part of the volunteer group on the nineties who had the pleasure of cleaning/maintaining her (open days were my favorite)) 😉

I am sure the second image is around 1978/79

I was on summer camp in July 1986 and there was very little left then I would be surprised if it is still there

Martin

That was WL754, which went to the fire dump, I would have thought that would be totally destroyed by now.

Hi
Does anyone know what happened to the Shack that was at RAF Valley ???

Also sorry to keep this Shackleton, but only just seen this thread:o
I’m surprised the St Mawgan Shack dosen’t get more notice especially as it has been turned back to original MR.2 Status, the MR parts coming from the then complete WL798 – Im hoping it’s a geographical thing. This is a great contender to be taken on by a national museum when the base winds down. Pics here http://www.abpic.co.uk/photo/1083409/
It is a shame that the RAF museum dosen’t have one in its main collection. Didnt Henlow have XF707 for this purpose and then scrapped it? Also the Science museum dosen’t exactly have a cracking example, I only hope they restore their MR.3 in complete condition.
Besides bare production figures, surely it must be worth considering the amount of work the Shackleton did for the RAF, and for how long.
Right quick round up of surviving RAF Shackletons
VP293 MR.1/T.4 Cockpit on trailer (ex strathallan)
WG511 MR.1/T.4 Forward Fuselage, Flambards, Helston
WL747 AEW.2 Paphos
WL756 AEW.2 Forward nose, Caernafon, N.Wales
WL757 AEW.2 Paphos
WL790 AEW.2 Pima, USA
WL795 AEW.2 / MR.2C St Mawgan, Cornwall
WL798 MR.2C Cockpit, Elgin Scotland
WR960 AEW.2 Manchester (RAFM loan)
WR963 AEW.2 Coventry
WR967 MR/T.2 Paphos dump, Cyprus
WR971 MR.3 Fuselage section, Norfolk
WR974 MR.3 Charlwood
WR977 MR.3 Newark
WR982 MR.3 Charlwood
WR985 MR.3 Long Marston
XF700 MR.3 Nicosia dump, Cyprus
XF708 MR.3 Duxford

By the way I would really like to know more of the current status of WL798 at Elgin and WR971 in Norfolk. Anyone?

As this thread now seems to be a Shackleton thread, here are the details of the S. African Shacks. There are three including the ‘Coke’ example and technically ‘Pelican 16’ is still in ‘Africa’!.

http://www.fortunecity.com/silverstone/paddock/1496/location.htm

Is the one on top of the building still there, looks in rough condition in the yellow paint

Here are the 4 preserved South African Shackletons

1 1720 Preserved on the gate of Ysterplaat(September 2004)
2 1721 Preserved at Swartkop (March 2005)
3 1722 Running-up at full chat during a ground-run at Ysterplaat.A beautiful sound! (September 2004)
4 1723 On the garage roof near Suweto (March 2005)

Most people who visit Manchester are more than happy to see the Shackleton

I don’t disagree, but you can substantiate this with some facts, can’t you? 😀 You know, a survey, quantified data, gate recipts with ‘Tick Here if you are a Shack fan’ on… Or are we talking ‘me & my mates’ or ‘my mate said’?

The RJ is a an Avro RJ which is the facelifted BAe146 and started off as a deHavilland design! Most people who visit Manchester are more than happy to see the Shackleton rather than a half finished regional airliner which barely raises an eyebrow compared to some of the other superlative Avro machines that predate it.

Does anyone remember the MK 3 in the US i think painted up in the Coke Cola livery, and was it on the roof of a building??

Take it you mean this one!

T J

Numbers of Shackletons built

3 prototypes
29 MR1
48 MR1A
69 MR2
34 MR3
8 MR3 for South Africa
There were also conversions to T4 and AEW2

Source: “Avro aircraft since 1908” by A J Jackson

The RAFM Shackleton at Manchester is supposed to be travelling to Cosford at some stage when it get’s replaced by a mundane half finished RJ . The actual percentage
of Shackleton’s preserved as opposed to outside in varying forms is incredibly small.
Whilst I agree that we cannot preserve them all – I feel that an example of of the MR.2 and 3 inside would be a start.

Wow, great news! By the way, forgive my stupidness, but whats an RJ?