Lancaster KB976

The ex-Southend Lincoln nose (originally from a Lancaster) went to Paul Allen in Seattle, much of the rest of it is now in Australia.

Does anyone know what happened to the Lancaster (possibly Lincoln) that was stored at North Weald during the 80’s – 90’s?
This aircraft was used as a laminar flow research vehicle and had `wing` mission stickers painted on the nose.
It was possibly a Lincoln and I seem to remember a lightblue upper, black undersurface of the very weathered paint.

The original front nose of KB976 is indeed on Jeremy’s fuselage project at Brooklands.

Found this whilst researching KB976 -this ties in with the Lancaster cockpit at Brooklands in terms of identifying where the surplus part of KB976 came from. This was the part pictured at Pidgeon Lake in FlyPast circa 1982.

http://www.bombercommandmuseum.ca/s,kb994fliesagain.html

Aye.
And it depresses me every time I look at it.

That pic always crys out what might have been…!!!!!!!

For anyone who didn’t see it the last time, here’s 976 sat her best.

Cees,
Yep this was the one the supports with skis? were too short coming out of the bombay and it rollled down the hill.
Interestingly enough this was one of 2 lancasters that the family bought!

Peter,

Was this also the one that rolled down a hill because of the supporting struts being to narrow. If I remember correctly the canopy was destroyed.

Cees

Correct david! That cockpt has been recorded elsewhere as being from 976 but I prove it is 994 with a photo of the 408 squadron receiving the full fuselage..
Some pics attached…

Steve T – Without being actually able to inspect her – the Weeks Lancaster
is very likely to have the complete rear fuselage of KB994 in her kit of parts.
Certainly the parts of KB976 damaged at Woodford are still in the U.K whilst the similar parts of KB994 arn’t! Basically a straight swap!

Lanc X relics

Peter et al–

KB994…oh no, the plot thickens! The Pigeon Lake fuselage. I had completely forgotten that that one had become part of the KB976 assemblage/project. As I recall, that one, which first the Canadian Military Aviation Museum (later BCAM) in Victoria BC and later 408 Sqn CF had been looking to recover, was more or less a complete fuselage in the mid-80s. If only a cockpit is at Sandtoft…does Kermit have the rest?

Incidentally, the Toronto Aerospace Museum had a display at the CNE this past month, and one of their docents told me they had acquired a section of a former range target Lanc (FM118??).

S.

that cockpit was of KB994….

The hangar collapse as such was during maitenance work on the structure.
Sadly one person involved in this lost his life. The weather wasn’t a factor.
Peter- The Lancaster parts at Sandtoft are registered as G-BVPP from memory as a Lancaster. However there is the badly damaged rear mid section
off KB976 and the remains of a much stripped cockpit. The wing centre section bears a remarkable likeness to the centre section of a Fairchild
C-119 (allegedly) !
The present owners plans are to rebuild the aircraft at Sandtoft I believe
to airworthy condition. However judging by present progress it won’t happen in my lifetime.
As for why the leave it all outside – well they own it and they can do pretty much as they like with it. Various approaches have been made but to
no avail apart from the ‘Band of Brothers’ outfit who took on the Dakota G-AMSN. Incredibly frustrating as it stands – I hope some of it is saved.

Can I just ask, how did the hangar roof collapse? Was it because of snow or some storm? Or was it merely a structural failure? A great shame either way.

Yes that section should be rebuilt.. who owns it and what are their plans??

Correct Peter.

that would be the section where the mid upper turret fits correct?

I would just like to clarify a few points. I helped purchase the rear section of
KB976 from her owner at Crowland for Skysport Engineering and later in the negociations which took the part to Doncaster.
The section as delivered to Skysport was indeed damaged but the section which mates her to the next section forward was there but broken off.
Essentially about eighteen feet of fuselage and a further part about four feet long. This contained various damaged ribs and the important joining frame .
This is evident in the pictures taken at Doncaster . The new metal is indeed
fairly poor but it can quite easily be rectified.
It’s important to point out on both myself and Aeroventure’s behalf that the intention is to repair and fabricate the missing parts as necessary. There was never any intention to rebuild her to anything other than artifact status.
Therefore the skins will be repaired and reinstated as needed.
Whilst her condition is indeed poor she has potential. I am not at liberty to discuss her purchase price but when the museum was offered a twenty one feet section of Lancaster structure which had been at Linton On Ouse
in 1945 they wern’t about to turn it down.
The next section forward is currently languishing at Sandtoft and it’s incredibly frustrating for the museum to be in the position of being helpless about it’s plight but that is the current situation.

Its a very depressing story. My lasting memory of this Lanc was of it looking superb in the Strathallan hangar.I posted several photos on this forum about 6 months ago. The rear tutrret didnt look very convincing, if memory serves, but otherwise it really looked the part.
I hope Mr. Weeks gets round to restoring it sometime.