Here we go, last 50 seconds or so

I seem to think a friend of mine’s father in-law worked on these.

100k, perhaps a bit more. No aircraft for it to be mounted in, nor will there ever be. It’s beautiful and a historic piece, but 2m could buy you a fleet of aircraft, live and static!

Milt. Thanks for the latest update mate, it’s amazing how far you have come! I am working on the oil by the way but doors that were once open now seem to be closed! I will keep trying mate, rest assured.

Any pictures of your cockpit?

I’d love to see some too!

No pics peter, but

“”Serial range ED303 – EE202 This aircraft was one of 620 Lancasters ordered from A.V.Roe (Chadderton in 1941 and built from Nov42 to Jun43 as 129 Mk.1 and 491 Mk.111, mixed up to ED782 and all Mk.111 from Ed783 onwards. The Mk.1s were initially fitted with Merlin 20 and the Mk.111 with Merlin 28 engines. ED974 was a Mk.111 and was delivered to No.83 Sqdn ex-SIU May43. ED974 took part in the following Key Operations: Bochum 12/13Jun43; Turin 12/13Jul43; Hamburg 2/3Aug43; Hannover 18/19Oct43; Berlin 22/23Nov43; Berlin 2/3Dec43; Berlin 16/17Dec43; Berlin 23/24Dec43; Berlin 29/30Dec43; Berlin 1/2Jan44; Berlin 2/3Jan44; Brunswick 14/15Jan43; Berlin 20/21Jan44-Lost. When lost this aircraft had a total of 265 hours. ED974 was one of three No.83 Sqdn Lancasters lost on this operation. SeeJB461; ND414. Airborne 1603 20Jan44 from Wyton. Those killed are buried in the Berlin 1939-1945 War Cemetery. F/S Millard had served with No.44 Sqdn, winning an immediate DFM (along with F/S D.L.T.Welensky), for sharing in the destruction of two enemy aircraft during operations to Bochum in late Sep43. Their joint citation was published 2Nov43. P/O G.I.Ransom RCAF KIA Sgt G.S.A.MacKinnon PoW F/S C.F.Plumb KIA F/S F.T.West KIA F/S F.T.West KIA F/S A.W.Coote KIA Sgt P.V.D.V.Vickers KIA F/S A.E.Millard DFM KIA Sgt G.S.A.MacKinnon was interned in Camps L6/357, PoW No.926. “

Which I’m sure you must have already.

I can’t add much except

I was there on det with another of the aircraft types on the pan.

2 amusing memories were watching a Nimrod taxi on to the pan infront of the assembled press, only for it to turn around infront of them creating a giant sandstorm that engulfed them all and generate huge cheers from the lineys! They bravely abandoned all their equipment and ran off to try and cough up all the sand out of their lungs! Sadly though half way through the turn the jet ran out of momentum, so the pilot opened the taps, which in turn allowed the jet blast to distribute the video cameras that had been abandoned into the desert at the side of the pan!

The second memory was watching a RAF MT driver pushing one back into it’s slot when he ran out of talent, sheared the towing arm and parked the tractor in the radome! Believe it grounded the jet for a week or two whilst a spare had to be ferried out from the UK!

Julie.

Blue steel was an air launched Nuclear Missile carried by Victors, Vulcans and possibly Valiants (not sure and waiting for someone more knowledgable!) back in the 60’s. It was Britains primary Nuclear deterrent until the Navy took over the job in the early 70’s i think with the polaris missile system.

I’m believe it was rather a snug fit to install one on a Victor as it required the aircraft to be jacked up off the ground to get enough clearance to squeeze the missile underneath it!

I’m sure some of the ex V-Force bods can explain better!