lancaster Picture Quiz

Just a little off topic, but what condition was KB976 in before the hangar roof incident?.. was she still in Canadian colours? I vaguely recollect someone at Strathallen saying they were going to get the engines running… a couple of years later, the collection folded. I know the majority of her resides in rather shabby containers at polk City…

Ok i you all got pretty close , the picture was sent to me by Lynn Garrison. In 1961 he had purchased FM-136 and then dedicated it as a memorial. In 1964 he purchased KB-976 and at the airshow at McCall field Calgary Alberta of that year he got permision to fly KB-976 over the top of FM-136 for the photo. He belives it was the last flight of a military Lancaster?? untill the BBMF of course!
Crew for the flight was himself as pilot, Co pilot was F/L Ralph Langemann a felow 403 squadron pilot and flight engineer Jimmy Sutherland who had flown opperationaly in Lancs durring WWII. Also on board were F/O Brian B. McKay and F/L Joe McGoldrick both of 403 Squadron. Lynn had slipped and broken his ankle the night before and ended up in the emergency room where he had an elastic bandage fitted ( he says he could’nt wait for a plaster cast!!) The next morning the crew carried him to the A/c and into the cockpit:eek: Oh and he had never flow a Lanc before:D He said if it wasnt for the pheumatic brakes he would not have managed 😀
The pic is signed by him and members of the crew.
A couple more pics he sent include on of him talking off in KB-976 and of the fly past at the airshow in formation with his P51 and a friend of his in their P40.

I didn’t recognise the plinth. 🙂

I had hitched a ride in to Calgary on the Purolator Learjet freighter to photograph the Seafire XV. In attempting to photograph the Lancaster I got eaten alive by Mosquitoes, grabbed two frames, and beat a very very hasty retreat.

August 1986.

Mark

hmmm

Strathallan collections Lancaster MKX KB976 on her way in or out of Calgary airport overflying the static Lancaster MKX MR FM136

It wouldn’t be NX611 on its way back home would it?

Not an unreasonable guess, but Australia’s never had a Lancaster on a pole.

Mark 12 is also not too far off the mark (but the wrong event), I believe….

indeed:D

Mark 12 is also not too far off the mark (but the wrong event), I believe….

Richard W is the closest so far, it is 1964, that is FM-136 on the pole and it is Canada.

Strathallan Lancaster G-BCOH departing Canada?

Mark

It wouldn’t be NX611 on its way back home would it?

Moggy

My guess is it is the retirement of the Lancaster from service in Canada. The one flying over is in Maritime rescue colours, and I’m pretty sure the one on the pole is FM136 . The codes and the plaque on the plinth correspond with this as she wore VH-N for a long time.

As for a year I would say 1963 or 64.

Rich

Here are my thoughts.

Despite the lack of a mid upper turret it is not a “Dambusters” Lanc and that is not Guy Gibson’s signature. The Lanc lacks exhaust shrouds suggesting it was never used on night ops. The upper photo shows what looks like a D/F loop in a teardrop housing aft of the canopy.

The lower Lanc has light spinners rather like the Mk VIIs used in the “Dambusters” movie.

The lower Lanc is mounted on a pole which was the fate of many Canadian Lancs in later years. I would say it is a Canadian Mark X.

Anyone got any other thoughts?

Colin

The CWH Lanc flying over one of the Canadian statics. Windsor?

Mark

Hmmm. Not sure but is that Guy Gibson’s signature on the left ? The flying Lanc has no top turret so a Dambuster ? Is it a Dambuster flying over a gate guardian somewhere, Scampton perhaps ? You’ve probably realised I’m guessing by now !

Steve

Ooo! Ooo! Me sir!

Having a copy of the print in my collection (although unsigned) I can make an informed guess (based on my Lanc article in Warbirds Worldwide some years ago). I’ll let some other people have a go first though.

Great pic.