Of course it’s PA474! Before the aircraft went to BBMF in 1973 it was in the care of 44 Squadron, then flying Vulcans, at RAF Waddington. They therefore gave it 44 Squadron codes.
BBMF Lancaster PA474 has carried the following codes.
KM-B 44 Sqd, Nettleton’s aircraft – on joining the BBMF in 1973 from the care of 44 Squadron
Became “City of Lincoln” – 1974
AJ-G 617 Sqd, Gibson’s aircraft – 1979
SR-D 101 Sqd – 1984
PM-M2 103 Sqd – 1988
WS-J “Johnnie Walker – Still Going Strong” 9 Sqd – 1994
QR-M “Mickey the Moocher” 61 Squadron – 2000
HW-R and BQ-B 100/550 Sqds “Phantom of the Ruhr” – 2007
KC-A, “Thumper MkIII” 617 Sqd – 2012
Sad news – a big name from my childhood.
Hmmmm! Shame G-ARVM wasn’t still there to be painted in BOAC markings!
(I did mean this VC10 being flown in at the point of retirement rather than being flown in now after 2 years in store).
I’m certainly not doubting that. Just saying it could have been done far more easily, especially as a VC10 has already landed there and the VC10 was designed for difficult minimal runways.
Can’t help thinking it would have been easier, and cheaper, to have flown the aircraft into Cosford.
He’s known to the Lincolnshire Aviation Heritage Centre at East Kirkby, he was going to do a talk there last year. Contact them, they may be able to help. I know he lived local to them, he was a farmer in Lincolnshire, I think.
So total silence then…….
Message in full……
Hello Everyone, It looks like we aren’t going to hit our target – unless someone puts in £12,500 in the next 30 minutes! – No? – Ok. We want to thank you for being so generous and taking the time to pledge. Crowdfunder is an all or nothing so that is why we are sending you a message now before it all falls off. We are quite a way on with our plans and have negotiated an extension, of the very tight 28 days to move her, to the optimum middle of July or by the end of September at the latest. We are also now getting some offers of equipment including a telehandler, hiab truck, trailer possibly a crane etc to start with and we will continue to get sponsorship to try and reduce the requirement for cash. There are however still things that cost money, such as insurance ( around £1900) and would hope we could retain the bulk of these pledges by asking if you could stay with us. We can be contacted on [email]wl795@outlook.com[/email], Save Our Shackleton facebook page, Gary on 07967 813605 or 01726 822154. We have a paypal account [email]wl795@outlook.com[/email], which we are using until the bank account comes through, and can take postal donations to “Save Our Shackleton”, Kingsley Village,Fraddon,Cornwall,TR9 6NA. We still need your help – if non of this fits yet just contact us and we can update you. This is not an end point , just a hiccup and the project is moving forward. Rosalie has currently been paid for, but that is just a part – she has to be moved to her summer home for some TLC while her permanent home is prepared. Again – thank you
Just had a message from Save our Shackleton/Crowdfunder. Project unsuccessful, money being refunded…….
Although they say they have an extension to move the aircraft.
He should have just kept his trousers on……
There you are! So in the words of Sir Bob Geldof, “just give us the money!”
…..I don’t want to be reading people’s posts “…..why wasn’t this saved?”
No point telling, me. Tell the people who won the bid. As the winning bidder, and only chance of securing the future of the aircraft they needed people’s support – and yes their money.
i guess people just like complaining about aircraft being scrapped, rather than do anything about it.
Sadly, it doesn’t look like enough money has been raised. When people say, why has this aircraft, or that aircraft been scrapped? Well everyone in the country had the chance to help this one………
The RAF Museum and the RAF are separate entities. The RAF Museum is mainly funded through grant-in-aid directly from the MoD.
The RAF Museum is a Quango/NDPB (Non-departmental Public Body) of the MoD.
RAF Typhoon in commemorative Battle of Britain markings unveiled here.