For a start there would have been no bombing of the Tirpitz with ‘Tallboy’ bombs.
I would have thought that operating with just the two Merlins, with overall loads and distance being non atainable, then someone would have said, “Hey! what about four Merlins?” then the Lancaster would have been born and life can return to normal for us Lancaster lovers! 😉

A very old and good friend of mine, Trevor Bailey was at Thumrait at the same time, after serving in the RAF at Coningsby and Wattisham as an armourer, he joined the Sultan of Omans Air force also as an Armourer.
These pics were taken by him at Thumrait, the figure walking down the runway about to be passed by a Jaguar is Squadron Leader Paddy Roberts.
Sorry about the quality of the images.

We have ‘booked’ the Lancaster to fly over Hunsdon airfield on the day we unveil the memorial there.
The memorial dedication ceremony is on the 22nd of May , we are just awaiting confirmation from the BBMF in respect of a time over target so to speak 😉 .

http://hunsdonmemorial.tripod.com

/ Rivenhall seems the most complete 😉

It would be a waste of money for me, I cannot fly one so I would rather donate the money to someone who could fly and maintain it,but it would have to have two seats so I could …err…keep an eye on my investment so to speak 😉

I am currently researching the names of all ground and aircrew who lost their lives flying from Hunsdon.
The names will be included on the Memorial we are building on Hunsdon airfield.

Lancaster, followed by,
Stirling
Halifax
B24
Blenheim
Beaufighter
Mosquito

I’m thinking of the 161(SD) squadron Halifax from Tempsford that used to lie on Great Cobb Island , it was on an arms drop for the resistance . the contents of the broken canisters including Sten guns and grenades were evident in the late 1970’s.
The Essex Aviation Group investigated this site before I joined them.