The Brooklands Museum event marked the 75th anniversary of the Wellington with the opening of a new exhibit at the museum, with new interpretation boards about the aircraft, and in particular the example they have N2980 “R for Robert” aka the Loch Ness Wellington.

After opening speeches by Allan Winn (Director of the museum), Norman Parker (who worked on Wellingtons during the war), Ken Wallis (who flew in Wellingtons during the war and later became famous for his autogyros) and Robin Holmes (who masterminded the recovery of N2980), the exhibition was formally opened by Penelope Keith, who is a trustee of the museum. There was then a “taxi run” demonstration by a large model Wellington outside the hanger. In the afternoon, Norman Parker gave an excellent presentation on the Wellington’s history and construction.

The photo below shows the principal guests at the event, including Norman Parker (head just below left-hand board), Ken Wallis (moustache and beard), Robin Holmes (pink sweater) and Penelope Keith (far right).

Congratulations to all at Brooklands Museum for organising this event to mark this significant aviation anniversary.

Iain Murray.

But I would have thought that any hardware for the dams missions would have been removed/altered after Chastise, in preparation for the Tallboy and Grand Slam missions the following year, and Tiger Force in 1945…

Although some of the Lancasters were converted back and flown on operations (though none were fitted to carry Tallboy or Grand Slam), some were kept in storage in their original configuration pending possible further use of the weapon (which was seriously considered, though never implemented). Some of these aircraft (including Gibson’s ED932) were available for the dumping of the unused HE-filled Upkeeps in 1945 and 1946. The dumping was done from Scampton, though the aircraft were flown down from Lossiemouth for the purpose.

Regards,

Iain.

When Gibson visits Wallis’s office for their initial meeting there is a rather, some might say “futuristic” for the time, painting of a needle nosed aircraft of some sort on the wall near the door.
Does anyone have any idea what it might be?

It’s actually the pointed tail of R.100, the huge airship which Wallis designed in the 1920s – the covering is in progress and tail fins are not yet covered. Attached is a recent photo taken of “Wallis’s office” at the RAF Museum (Hendon) which has this picture over in the corner – try comparing with the movie!

I believe the aircraft mentioned is a Swallow, a design for a variable-geometry airliner

By chance, the white model in front of the R.100 painting is of the Swallow – this wasn’t designed until the early 50s, but (a different model of Swallow) is often seen in archive shots of Wallis at his desk.

any insight as to how the new Dambusters movie, penned by Stephen Fry, is coming along?

About a month ago he was working on the final draft of the script … the original timescale seems to have slipped a bit, with release now not likely before 2010 – maybe even 2011.

Hope this is helpful.

Regards,

Iain.