Nice shots Septic, the PR9’s still look great. Shame they are going out of service.

I’d have to dig out the relevant source to be sure and as usual it’s ages since I read but, IIRC, the Lancs mid-upper wasn’t fitted until the mid-70s (1974, I think) and was brought back from Argentina by the Royal Navy. Which would makes sense as the Argies operated the type (MR.10, wasn’t it?).

BBMF website has it that both front and rear turrets were fitted in 1966 and the mid upper was fitted in 1975 after being bought back from Argentina aboard HMS Hampshire.

Excellent shots, Topside of the eagle is very nice.

Nice pic’s, especially the first motorbike one.

If ‘Operation Crossbow’ was a 1965 production, that would have sat the ownership of MH434 squarely with Tim Davies – 1963 to 1967.

Whilst I have many shots of MH434 in it’s civil blue/white schemes and variations at this time, I have nothing in a ‘film PR’ scheme. Does anybody have a shot or can further confirm please?

Can anybody possibly download a still from a DVD of Operation Crossbow for discussion?

Mark

ps From the Military Aviation Film List.

Operation Crossbow/”The Great Spy Mission”
1965 *v
RAF- George Peppard; The hunt for V-1 launch sites, Spitfire IX (MH434), Lancaster stock footage.

Pretty sure it was in the blue and white scheme for the film going by memory.

Congratulations to the Red Sparrows who did a cracking display at the open day at my old base on Saturday. It was very tight and you kept it nice and near to the crowd, unlike the BBMF Lancaster who was obviously fearful of entering Suffolk airspace ! The four ship landing was a nice touch, though not quite as impressive as the three ship Tornado “Op-waves” we used to launch. It’s a shame that such an impressive base is now a shadow of its former self, seeing the grass 3ft high and new barrack blocks on the actual airfield is rather depressing I have to say. 🙁

Certainly is a shame to see Honington going to waste, Hard to think it was 11 years ago since it has seen any real activity and that was when Lakenheath was closed for runway work and the Eagles deployed there.

1. A 99 with flake.

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