The owner of the photos tells me that her grandfather (in the photos) recalled it was very hot in Norway, so that agrees with it being 129. They were based at Bentwaters January to May 1945, and Norway June to November 1945. They finally finished up at Church Fenton where in September 1946 they were disbanded and renumbered as 257 Sq.

In the end I got hold of the second photo. At least one of the people featured is the same in both. This time it is said to be in Norway, but I have no information as to when each picture was taken.

Thanks TA. I am away from my books today, so what is the code for 72? Any idea where this could be? The serial seems to start “N”. I have another photo from the same source supposedly taken in Norway. Was 72 there at any stage?

Hello T-21. Could be, but what is the Navy connection?

I agree Charlie. It is very true here, as I got this photo from a genealogy thread (I do that too!) from someone who wanted to know what his uncle (a submariner in the War) was up to. A Naval rating posing in front of a white Lancaster!

As Air Ministry suggested in post 10, this might have been one of the 6 (or 3?) FAA Lancasters, used briefly as flying classrooms for observer training:
http://www.lancaster-archive.com/lanc_postwar-royalnavy.htm
http://www.royalnavyresearcharchive.org.uk/Article_Lancasters.htm#cmtx_form

Could the sailors in post 1 be ratings under training as observers at RNAS Godwit (Hinstock) in 1946?
What we need is to know what colour they were, and photos if possible.

That’s great Charlie. MG was indeed 7 Sqd. They even used the Mk I (FE), which would have been white I suspect. They were ready to go to the Far East, but the war ended before they went.

Does it look like St Mawgan? Pretty flat, but there’s a Nissen hut on the left and maybe the edge of a tower on the right.

Those parachute packs and the harnesses with the two big hooks on the front take me back to my ATC rides in Lincolns: I often wondered what would happen if that parachute opened in front of your nose on the way down. Whatever, probably better than it not opening.