I'm from Hamilton, Ontario. I remember the day when the Lancaster fuselage was dropped off at Mt Hope airport. At the time, it was hard to believe they'd ever get it flying again. But the volunteers at the Canadian Warplane Heritage museum did a magnificent job.
Burlington here To tell you she follows the 407 into south west crosses over towards the lift bridge and rides the lake The a turn in towards Mt Hope.The house faces towards the lake So all you know is ROAAAAAaAaAaaarrrrrr And by the time you have the phone in your hand...shes gone lol
My sister works in the museum and was telling me today that Bruce Dickinson of Iron Maiden has just donated $750,000 to buy 4 new merlin engines for Vera
i have a vid of VERA doing a night ramp run at the CWHM about a week before she went to the UK, she was painted as another Lanc called ROPEY as a memorial ua-cam.com/video/MYNdkGPEd2Q/v-deo.html
My uncle flew Lancaster's during WW 2 and on a trip to Germany in 1990 he 2as asked at the hotel if he had visited Germany before His answer puzzled the clerk when he replied Not in Daytime
Lovely! Reminds me of a conversation with a German colleague that I was taking on some farming visits many years ago. 'The last time I visited Norfolk Richard was in a Heinkel. I think this trip is already more successful'.
On a family Holiday to Germany in the early 90s,we were taken to Lübeck by our German friends..as we approached the city's famous gateway, my grandfather,with perfect timing,announced " last time I saw those walls,I had been Shelling the place.." bless him😄
The old tired joke originally goes like that: an old grizzled BEA 747 captain has problems to find the right taxiway at Frankfurt airport in the late 70ies. The controller in the tower is very patient with him and in the end he rather exasperatedly asks him: „have You never been in Frankfurt before?“. The old chap answers: „actually I was but I didn’t stop“😂
My gracious, those things sure used a long takeoff run here. Were they carrying Grand Slams in their payload bays? Jokes aside, what an amazing sight, two of the only flying examples of one of the most famous bombers in history flying together. It reminds me of when we had the B-29s Doc and Fifi finally fly together here in the US a few years back.
Words cannot describe how beautiful these machines are. In the same way, words cannot describe how grateful I am for the sacrifices those young airmen, including members of my own family who risked it all, and sometimes gave it all for our freedoms. Bless 'em all.
Steeeeeve The RAF bomber command lost in battle and training wrecks 1/2 of all 7700+ Lancaster built and 1/2 the total RAF fliers, terrible loss record !!!
I visited UK from New Zealand in 2018. Friends I was staying with took me to a classic car show that was on an old WW2 airfield. I was in the process of photographing up close some old cars when a Lancaster with a Spitfire & Hurricane escort flew over. That was the fastest lens change I have ever done & the sound of all those Merlin engines running together is something I hope I never loose. What a delightful surprise
I was at the Canadian Warplane Museum in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada for the first flight of VRA, the Andrew Mynarski VC Memorial Lancaster. There were so many emotions going on it was difficult to sort them out, but I know for sure I was in tears when she took off for the first time. I had heard a Spitfire in the air before, but never 4 in close formation. She was simply majestic, and I will never forget that afternoon. God bless all who Served.
I've never seen a Lancaster bomber take off before. Interesting how the tail comes up horizontal and the plane just lifts off.. Amazing... . Also it reminded me of all those brave young men off on a bomber run in ww2.... I gave myself a minute silence to remember them.... Nice video thank you....
As Fredric March said at the end of The Bridges at Toko-ri, “where do we get such men?” Those men of RAF Bomber Command weren’t stupid, they knew darkness wasn’t much protection from German night fighters or flak. They knew they weren’t flying to bomb targets the Germans didn’t think were worth defending. They knew that statistically 1 in 10 (or whatever the number was) wouldn’t come back from the mission. Still they suited up and got in those planes night after night.
Indeed. But quite a stiff headwind, no .303 ammo, no armour plating, no bomb load and a fairly light fuel load. Add 5000hp to the equation and it's tail up and head for the heavens quite quickly!
I suppose I sound like a kook saying that I've had flashbacks of being a Lancaster pilot who was fatally shot down over Germany, but gee they seemed real at the time.
My Great Uncle died in one of those. I never knew him, except for the sadness in my grandmother's words. He started his training as a navigator in Canada, flying there from Australia and joining the RAF. His last mission was to Munster during WWII. The plane went down just off the cliffs of Dover on their return run. He's buried with his mates in Cambridge.
I did the photography for their visit to Teesside Airport in 2014 and got to speak to VeRAs Pilot, Don Schofield. Such a lovely man and loved our chat, the fact he and his crew flew her all the way from Ontario to Coningsby was a miracle in itself. Such a thrill to see two Lancs in the air at a former Lancaster Airbase, RAF Middleton St George
I live under 1 of the flightpaths to RAF Conningsby and I was very lucky to see both Lancs take off & land quite a few times that summer. I sadly couldn’t attend Lincs Aviation museum at East Kirkby when they also had their Lanc doing taxi runs while ‘Vera & Thumper’ flew over, but I’ve seen footage from friends and it looked amazing.
Fantastic footage, and what a sound! These 2 featured at the Eastbourne airshow of 2014, and we had the great pleasure of having them flying low, directly over our house on their way to and from, on 3 consecutive days. Along with their 2 escorting Spitfires, the noise was thunderous, and at the time made me think " now multiply that by several hundred". It must have struck awe and fear into the hearts of anyone hearing that.
Those hearing them leaving our shores (Britain) must have heard salvation and pride those hearing them coming heard something else…..sow the wind reap the whirlwind….
@@phaasch : no I didn’t until about 1 minute ago, thank you. They flew over my house in the way to Eastbourne as well might not have been the same year but one definitely did….seemed to me it was low (we’re on a hill north of Bexhill) and agree about the sound. Both my parents were adolescents during the war and both vividly remember the sound of hearing bombers I suspect coming and going.
A marvelous sight to see, I remember one taking off from Manchester in the 80s and the noise was astoundingly wonderful, one cannot imagine what it must have sounded like with hundreds in the sky.
@@Saxondog especially if you're underneath, much like the sound of a v 1 or ju88 A10 you know something is coming and it isn't going to be nice what ever side you're on
I’m from Birmingham uk… when I was a kid in the 80s a lancaster from the memorial flight flew over the park I was playing on….I always remember chasing after it… loads of excited kids…. Remembering back.. I could have been in the war years just the same as people viewed it back then…
@@Durgesuth Nice images. I was born in Brum , September 1941.during an Air raid, according to my mom. When I was about 3, we lived about 7 miles from Castle Bromwhich, where the Spitfires were made. I was sat in my Pushchair in the Garden, on a clear sunny day, when 3 Spitfires roared low over our house. I've since concluded that they probably were piloted by those very brave ladies of the ATA.--heading for RAF bases down south.
Great video. I've seen VR-A several times here in Winnipeg. It's amazing how fast they lift off, but it makes sense when you consider they have no bombs or ammunition on board. My father-in-law was with the RCAF flying out of RAF Croft in Yorkshire with 434 squadron. He was a tail gunner in Halifaxes and Lancasters. 24 trips in the Halifax and 10 trips in the Lanc. They converted to Lancs in Dec, 44 I think. It was a privilege to have got to know him and to have heard his stories. He celebrated his 21'st birthday coming back to Canada on the Queen Marry. He died in 2020 at age 96.
I live near Croft in North Yorkshire and there is a memorial close by the former airfield with the statue of an airman gazing into the sky. The servicemen who served there will not be forgotten. On a lighter note I learned to drive there as it is now a motorsport centre.
I'm lucky enough to see and hear Vera several times over my home each summer. This video is a sad reminder of all of the aircrews who took off in their various aircraft but never returned and that's mostly the point of keeping these flying.
Twice a day every day I passed the MoTaT museum in Auckland on my way to and from school then work, and in those days in the space between a shed and the outside fence was a Lancaster bomber (still at the museum I have been told). To me it was, and still is, one of the most beautiful aeroplanes I had/have ever seen and the opportunity to actually watch TWO of them take off and fly is a dream come true. I've seen the Battle of Britain flypast with the Lancaster but you can't appreciate just how truly beautiful and also frightening these aircraft are unless you are at a close range. As kids we all visited the Lancaster with our schools (and the Spitfire in the Auckland War Memorial Museum) but to actually see them at close quarters - even through the lens of your camera - is truly, truly, a magnificent sight and to see them both fly has made the perfect beginning to a new year. Thank you so much for this video, my grandfather was RAF but didn't fly bombers - based in Egypt for the duration of the war manning the barrage balloons, a childhood dream of his - and to me these are still one of, if not THE, most beautiful aeroplanes ever designed and flown.
I was on the hill between Holcombe and Dawlish when these two came in from the Teign Estuary and swooped low over us. They really are incredible machines and properly scary. It’s amazing we have these two still flying to remind us of what happened 75-80 years ago.
“Vera” resides in my hometown of Hamilton Ontario and never fails to thrill me when she flies over my home which is a pretty regular occurrence. Saw them both fly over Inverary Scotland when I was there a few years ago. Fills you with pride when you know some of the volunteers that brought her back to flying condition
@Davey Creeker, a number of years ago I had the opportunity to tour the Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum. Wonderful museum. Sadly, due to the actions of the current government, I will not be able to visit Canada. Quite a shame. Enjoyed both of my visits.
So cool!! Now, I gather one of them is the 'Manarski' Lancaster? I remember seeing her at Abbotsford, I couldn't get over the size and height, simply amazing.
With out a bomb load they get in the air pretty quick. My Dad was with the RCAF and Lancasters and told me a story about one of their pilots who was a smaller man and Dad said really should have been flying fighters, but one mission this chap had a heck of a time wrestling his loaded Lancaster into the air and bounced it through the bomb dump at the end of the runway, spun the plane around and took off going the other way, he was going to Germany no matter what. These were men with serious courage.
Did you hear the one about the spoil heap near to the peri track? A Lanc. rear gunner used it to test his guns before takeoff. A wooden shack behind the pile of soil got hit by a few bullets, then the gunner saw a tramp exiting the door at high speed. The crew checked the shack the next day, no blood, just straw, a few bottles and some turds. (hardly surprising, really..)
Very much doubt the guy had trouble lifting the flight control surfaces,they would be no heavier then in any other take off,only the weight of payload,wind conditions or engine power would dictate wether or not you can get the aircraft off the ground 🤷♂️
@@markhepworth Fully loaded this wasn't an easy plane to get in the air, it is heavy. In an interview with WWII Lancaster pilot Lyle James he said "you have to remember when you went to take that thing off, it was, weighted 32 000 pounds and it carried 36 000 pounds. So it actually carried more than its weight. And you had to get that thing up from a standing start to 120 miles a hour, within less than a mile and that was the tough part. And like, I'm not very big and I had trouble controlling the pedals. And you would have to lock your left arm out because the torque of the aircraft wanted to, would go to the right. So, you'd have to hold onto the heavy part, and more than once maybe, I can't get it, "I'm not going to make it. I'm not going to make it." But then once that tail came up and you got the air flow over the tail, it was like a bird." www.veterans.gc.ca/eng/video-gallery/video/6792
My Dad's best mate was a tail gunner in a Lancaster during the war he was the size of a jockey a Scotsman from Glasgow he went deaf in these machines but said it was a grand way to see Europe!! Thank you to all for your sacrifice RIP 🇦🇺🌺🙏
The sound of those Engines made the hair on the back of my neck stand up! What a fantastic sight seeing those two bombers taking off, I’d give anything to have a trip in one of those! Brilliant footage
I knew a man from Newfoundland who was a tail gunner in Lancasters throughout the war. He volunteered and did his bit. After the war, he went back to farming.
my step-father flew Lanc's... rcaf 36 missions dfc..he just passed last month at 100... he preferred the radial engines they first had...me too.....Rest in Peace Bob... and uncle Roger, who died in the turret of his 17....Rest in Peace Roger...L'est we forget...
Voir deux magnifiques AVRO Lancaster voler de concerts c'est formidable! Et à entendre ces moteurs Merlin ensemble c'est très impressionnant! Merci du partage, un abonné de France! 🥰👍🇲🇫🇬🇧
My late uncle was a tail gunner in 514 squadron out of waterbeach. Flew 30 operations then returned as gunnery instructor and flew more. He lived to tell the take but rarely did.
I saw the Mynarski Lancaster fly over my house while I was cutting the grass years ago. I was thrilled. Maybe twenty plus years ago. I hope to see her this summer.
We saw them at the beach when they came a day late , after the airshow . As we were on the train back , passing the end of the runway , a Spitfire and Hurricane took off over the train ; a minute later both Lancasters drew alongside the train at treetop height and followed us for a few minutes , before banking left over us and heading out over the Irish Sea for their next appearance in NI .
I've seen an old WWII picture of Prestwick airport, I think the photographer was standing down near those gates that lead to the tower. Looking out at the aprons there is a sea of parked Lancaster bombers and a few Flying Fortresses. A true wartime scene. Changed days.
Planes want to fly. You take care of them they'll stay in the air for decades. Look at the B52s who are being flown by the grandchildren of pilots who flew them in Vietnam. Helicopters yeah they don't want to fly hahaha.
I golf regularly at a course right near the home of the Lancaster Vera in Hamilton, Ontario. We are so lucky to see this aircraft fly over us on a regular basis and you can often hear it before you see it. We always stop to watch it and we never get tired of the spectacle. It's one of several planes we see on a regular basis. The Warplane Heritage Museum at Hamilton's Mount Hope Airport is really worth a visit.
Reminds me of the Shackletons at Ballykelly ,flying almost hedge height in the Roe valley, Northern Ireland. Thank you for sharing this with us all,best wishes from the wirral peninsula,bounded by the mersey and the Dee and the Irish sea...geography and rhyme...E...
I believe that barns Wallis was instrument in developing the Lancaster bomber and the bouncing bomb and Talbot bomb . I know his granddaughter personally. She lives in Nottingham. ??
Beautiful!!!!!!!! 🇬🇧 Thank You for the footage!!!!!!! Makes me want to build that 1/72nd Matchbox kit!!!!!!! Or at least pore over the instruction sheets.
Vera flew over my house in Belwood years ago. 4 Merlins make an unmistakable sound. A few years later B29 (B50) FiFi flew over it too. Again unmistakable sound of the Wasps.
Always breaks my heart that so few of these old girls survived into preservation. Might not be as glamorous when compared to the fighters but just as important.
Stood beside the Lancaster and the pilot put full throttle on the engines (brakes on) absolutely stunning listening to those 1000 hp, v12, Merlin engines,
A magnificent sight and sound, a fitting tribute to all of the flight crews who flew them in anger and never returned, brave men all, does that make three airworthy machines in the world now?.
Two airworthy, plus one on the way. There's been quite a lot of crevice and lamination corrosion to deal with. Duralumin is light and strong but it does rot over the years.
@@monteceitomoocher I think there is a Guy Martin video about it, he was allowed to taxi the aircraft from memory. I came across it a few weeks ago now, well worth watching.
Back in July 1975 I visited the Strathallan Aircraft Collection (Auchterarder) with a friend. At that time they had Lancaster KB976 which was potentially airworthy. My friend asked someone at the collection if the short grass runway was long enough for a Lanc and the Strathallan guy said that Lancs could take off in just 2500 feet. Amazing.
Those wings lifted a ten ton bomb ( grand slam) with fuel and armaments for war missions. ‘Light’ those four merlins should simply bounce a lanc into its natural element.
I saw them on the way to Prestwick they circled round the town of Barnoldswick over the Rolls Royce factory where many of the Merlin engines were produced in the war
My dad was in the raf in ww2 and used to load the bombs on them I have many photos of my dad standing next to the lanks I have a soft spot for this wonderful air craft
Just think on the Dambuster raid they flew at night and at @ 100ft can you imagine the concentration by these guys ...some were only 20yrs old.....unbelievable
Originally they did - the FN64. But, sighted by periscope, it was useless for tracking targets - especially at night. So it was just so much additional weight and drag. Therefore, the turret was deleted from the main production run, although many Hercules powered Mk IIs were equipped with it.
Trivia...An attendant at Coningsby told me they get about 15 landings out of those Lanc tyres before they need to be replaced...and the Spit MK IIa EBG (P7350) is the oldest airworthy Spitfire in the world and the only Spitfire still flying today to have actually fought in the Battle of Britain....So you're seeing the little one that defended the motherland and the unleashed beast that took the fight back to Germany....They might be a thing of beauty but make no bones about it those are masterful killing machines.
just reading " RAF Pathfinders" by Martyn Chorlton bless the Canadian, Polish, Jamaican, and British airmen so many brave men and the world is still a frigging mess. so so sad xx navy veteran in Suffolk England .
A few years after this tour I managed to get a flight to Canada and flew out of Hamilton in VERA highlight was circling Niagara Falls invading USA airspace and thundering back over Lake Ontario towards Toronto. Oh don’t take your earphones off when you’re in the cockpit next to 4 Merlin’s in the back it’s ok but my eardrums nearly left my head!
Lest we forget 58,000 did not come back. They fought a bloody war in the air, I lost an Uncle, he was a rear gunner in a Lanc, never knew him . Uncle John, I just saw the Photos when I was a kid he looked very smart film star like in his RAF uniform.
Unfortunately we couldn't attend both Saturday and Sunday that Year so we took the decision to go for the Sunday as that was the Static Day at Prestwick which by luck happened to be the day that the Lancasters did make it having cancelled the Saturday due Weather, fantastic to see them both, unfortunately neither my still or video camera decided they didn't want to take pics or footage of the Spitfire and Hurricane but it did take a couple of ok ones of the Lancasters. After this show I didn't see the BBMF Lancaster for about 10 Years as the next time after this fantastic and very emotional Flypast I would see the BBMF Lancaster would be This Year 2024 over both Blackpool and Ayr.....
If you're visiting southern Ontario, Canada, do make the trip to the Hamilton Mt. Hope airport and the Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum. See the Lancaster VERA and many more flying and static vintage aircraft. You can book rides in many, including VERA. Gret displays and a wonderful gift shop.
Arrived there with a tail wheel assembly we recovered from the ocean in Holland . Turned out they had no need of it in 97. Mike Spence's father flew delivery across the pond of the forked devils . Wonder what happened to uncle Dave's little hobby ranch at the end of the runway .
Very rare moment first class 👏 tribute to the people who maintain these beautiful flying old ladies two majestic bombers and they represent all who never came back and ground crew's who kept them flying respect 👏🙏
Great video, apart from the wind noise. Maybe invest in a mic that damps that out 🤔 I have a movie clip, albeit a little shaky, of these two flying over my house with a Vulcan as they did a fly pass over the Bomber Command Centre in Lincoln, the sound was awesome! Living so close the the BCC means we get to see the City of Lincoln Lancaster fairly often during the summer, I always stop doing whatever I'm doing and watch in awe!
And a big thank-you for developing the fantastic Merlin engine that was then fitted to our P-51 Mustangs!
I'm from Hamilton, Ontario. I remember the day when the Lancaster fuselage was dropped off at Mt Hope airport. At the time, it was hard to believe they'd ever get it flying again. But the volunteers at the Canadian Warplane Heritage museum did a magnificent job.
Burlington here To tell you she follows the 407 into south west crosses over towards the lift bridge and rides the lake The a turn in towards Mt Hope.The house faces towards the lake So all you know is ROAAAAAaAaAaaarrrrrr And by the time you have the phone in your hand...shes gone lol
My sister works in the museum and was telling me today that Bruce Dickinson of Iron Maiden has just donated $750,000 to buy 4 new merlin engines for Vera
@@bat33.12 wow I know the blades are 25,000 a pop
@@bat33.12 Bruce Dickenson is awesome!
@@bat33.12
Fantastic!
A very big thank you to the Canadian Warplane Heritage most of us could only dream of seeing two flying Lancasters in the same piece of sky THANK YOU
One day soon, hopefully “Just Jane” will join Thumper and Vera 🙏🏼
@@iankirkpatrick264 absolutely: Just Jane belongs in the sky….proud member of the rivet club! Donate, subscribe keep em flying
I’ve been in Vera. The members of the Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum treat Vera like a valued family member.
@@iankirkpatrick264 I think Just Jane is the one that does the taxing at Conningsby,Lincolnshire
i have a vid of VERA doing a night ramp run at the CWHM about a week before she went to the UK, she was painted as another Lanc called ROPEY as a memorial
ua-cam.com/video/MYNdkGPEd2Q/v-deo.html
My Grandfather flew in WWII, as a Lancaster Pilot. Flt. Lt. A J Hodgkinson - 460 Squadron "Strike and Return". Passed aged 84 in 2004. RIP.
Yes Dad flew WWII Lancs 460 Squadron as well
My uncle flew Lancaster's during WW 2 and on a trip to Germany in 1990 he 2as asked at the hotel if he had visited Germany before His answer puzzled the clerk when he replied Not in Daytime
Now where have I heard that before??
Lovely! Reminds me of a conversation with a German colleague that I was taking on some farming visits many years ago. 'The last time I visited Norfolk Richard was in a Heinkel. I think this trip is already more successful'.
Love it
On a family Holiday to Germany in the early 90s,we were taken to Lübeck by our German friends..as we approached the city's famous gateway, my grandfather,with perfect timing,announced " last time I saw those walls,I had been Shelling the place.." bless him😄
The old tired joke originally goes like that: an old grizzled BEA 747 captain has problems to find the right taxiway at Frankfurt airport in the late 70ies. The controller in the tower is very patient with him and in the end he rather exasperatedly asks him: „have You never been in Frankfurt before?“. The old chap answers: „actually I was but I didn’t stop“😂
Much gratitude to all the people who dedicate themselves to keeping theses machines in flying order.
Superb work 😀!!!
"C'mon guys!!, we've got dams to bust!!".
Beautiful bombers. Great video.
Yes I agree!!
@@johnbockelie3899 keep it low, ok, 60feet only heavy flack,
My gracious, those things sure used a long takeoff run here. Were they carrying Grand Slams in their payload bays? Jokes aside, what an amazing sight, two of the only flying examples of one of the most famous bombers in history flying together. It reminds me of when we had the B-29s Doc and Fifi finally fly together here in the US a few years back.
Words cannot describe how beautiful these machines are. In the same way, words cannot describe how grateful I am for the sacrifices those young airmen, including members of my own family who risked it all, and sometimes gave it all for our freedoms. Bless 'em all.
Give me a Heinkel or Junkers any day! These hideous things look ungainly.
Steeeeeve The RAF bomber command lost in battle and training wrecks 1/2 of all 7700+ Lancaster built and 1/2 the total RAF fliers, terrible loss record !!!
I visited UK from New Zealand in 2018. Friends I was staying with took me to a classic car show that was on an old WW2 airfield. I was in the process of photographing up close some old cars when a Lancaster with a Spitfire & Hurricane escort flew over. That was the fastest lens change I have ever done & the sound of all those Merlin engines running together is something I hope I never loose. What a delightful surprise
I was at the Canadian Warplane Museum in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada for the first flight of VRA, the Andrew Mynarski VC Memorial Lancaster. There were so many emotions going on it was difficult to sort them out, but I know for sure I was in tears when she took off for the first time. I had heard a Spitfire in the air before, but never 4 in close formation. She was simply majestic, and I will never forget that afternoon. God bless all who Served.
I've never seen a Lancaster bomber take off before. Interesting how the tail comes up horizontal and the plane just lifts off.. Amazing... . Also it reminded me of all those brave young men off on a bomber run in ww2.... I gave myself a minute silence to remember them.... Nice video thank you....
I wondered how much difference the bomb load made to the length of the take off
As Fredric March said at the end of The Bridges at Toko-ri, “where do we get such men?”
Those men of RAF Bomber Command weren’t stupid, they knew darkness wasn’t much protection from German night fighters or flak. They knew they weren’t flying to bomb targets the Germans didn’t think were worth defending. They knew that statistically 1 in 10 (or whatever the number was) wouldn’t come back from the mission. Still they suited up and got in those planes night after night.
Indeed. But quite a stiff headwind, no .303 ammo, no armour plating, no bomb load and a fairly light fuel load. Add 5000hp to the equation and it's tail up and head for the heavens quite quickly!
Yep,that’s how all tail dragger aircraft take off.
I suppose I sound like a kook saying that I've had flashbacks of being a Lancaster pilot who was fatally shot down over Germany, but gee they seemed real at the time.
My Great Uncle died in one of those. I never knew him, except for the sadness in my grandmother's words. He started his training as a navigator in Canada, flying there from Australia and joining the RAF. His last mission was to Munster during WWII. The plane went down just off the cliffs of Dover on their return run. He's buried with his mates in Cambridge.
I did the photography for their visit to Teesside Airport in 2014 and got to speak to VeRAs Pilot, Don Schofield.
Such a lovely man and loved our chat, the fact he and his crew flew her all the way from Ontario to Coningsby was a miracle in itself.
Such a thrill to see two Lancs in the air at a former Lancaster Airbase, RAF Middleton St George
I live under 1 of the flightpaths to RAF Conningsby and I was very lucky to see both Lancs take off & land quite a few times that summer. I sadly couldn’t attend Lincs Aviation museum at East Kirkby when they also had their Lanc doing taxi runs while ‘Vera & Thumper’ flew over, but I’ve seen footage from friends and it looked amazing.
It was an incredible experience, the sight and sound of 3 Lancs
Fantastic footage, and what a sound!
These 2 featured at the Eastbourne airshow of 2014, and we had the great pleasure of having them flying low, directly over our house on their way to and from, on 3 consecutive days. Along with their 2 escorting Spitfires, the noise was thunderous, and at the time made me think " now multiply that by several hundred". It must have struck awe and fear into the hearts of anyone hearing that.
If you could only hear the planes through the wind on the mic.
Those hearing them leaving our shores (Britain) must have heard salvation and pride those hearing them coming heard something else…..sow the wind reap the whirlwind….
@@jujitusuka Do you know the poem "Lie in the Dark, and Listen?"
@@phaasch : no I didn’t until about 1 minute ago, thank you. They flew over my house in the way to Eastbourne as well might not have been the same year but one definitely did….seemed to me it was low (we’re on a hill north of Bexhill) and agree about the sound. Both my parents were adolescents during the war and both vividly remember the sound of hearing bombers I suspect coming and going.
Had the pleasure of witnessing that , and hearing all those Merlins was an experience i won't forget.
A marvelous sight to see, I remember one taking off from Manchester in the 80s and the noise was astoundingly wonderful, one cannot imagine what it must have sounded like with hundreds in the sky.
How about, Frightening?
@@Saxondog especially if you're underneath, much like the sound of a v 1 or ju88 A10 you know something is coming and it isn't going to be nice what ever side you're on
I’m from Birmingham uk… when I was a kid in the 80s a lancaster from the memorial flight flew over the park I was playing on….I always remember chasing after it… loads of excited kids…. Remembering back.. I could have been in the war years just the same as people viewed it back then…
@@Durgesuth Nice images. I was born in Brum , September 1941.during an Air raid, according to my mom. When I was about 3, we lived about 7 miles from Castle Bromwhich, where the Spitfires were made. I was sat in my Pushchair in the Garden, on a clear sunny day, when 3 Spitfires roared low over our house. I've since concluded that they probably were piloted by those very brave ladies of the ATA.--heading for RAF bases down south.
The sound of those merlins were a moral booster for the Dutch hearing them on their way to Germany
Great video. I've seen VR-A several times here in Winnipeg. It's amazing how fast they lift off, but it makes sense when you consider they have no bombs or ammunition on board. My father-in-law was with the RCAF flying out of RAF Croft in Yorkshire with 434 squadron. He was a tail gunner in Halifaxes and Lancasters. 24 trips in the Halifax and 10 trips in the Lanc. They converted to Lancs in Dec, 44 I think. It was a privilege to have got to know him and to have heard his stories. He celebrated his 21'st birthday coming back to Canada on the Queen Marry. He died in 2020 at age 96.
I live near Croft in North Yorkshire and there is a memorial close by the former airfield with the statue of an airman gazing into the sky. The servicemen who served there will not be forgotten. On a lighter note I learned to drive there as it is now a motorsport centre.
I'm lucky enough to see and hear Vera several times over my home each summer. This video is a sad reminder of all of the aircrews who took off in their various aircraft but never returned and that's mostly the point of keeping these flying.
Twice a day every day I passed the MoTaT museum in Auckland on my way to and from school then work, and in those days in the space between a shed and the outside fence was a Lancaster bomber (still at the museum I have been told). To me it was, and still is, one of the most beautiful aeroplanes I had/have ever seen and the opportunity to actually watch TWO of them take off and fly is a dream come true. I've seen the Battle of Britain flypast with the Lancaster but you can't appreciate just how truly beautiful and also frightening these aircraft are unless you are at a close range. As kids we all visited the Lancaster with our schools (and the Spitfire in the Auckland War Memorial Museum) but to actually see them at close quarters - even through the lens of your camera - is truly, truly, a magnificent sight and to see them both fly has made the perfect beginning to a new year.
Thank you so much for this video, my grandfather was RAF but didn't fly bombers - based in Egypt for the duration of the war manning the barrage balloons, a childhood dream of his - and to me these are still one of, if not THE, most beautiful aeroplanes ever designed and flown.
I was on the hill between Holcombe and Dawlish when these two came in from the Teign Estuary and swooped low over us. They really are incredible machines and properly scary. It’s amazing we have these two still flying to remind us of what happened 75-80 years ago.
“Vera” resides in my hometown of Hamilton Ontario and never fails to thrill me when she flies over my home which is a pretty regular occurrence. Saw them both fly over Inverary Scotland when I was there a few years ago. Fills you with pride when you know some of the volunteers that brought her back to flying condition
@Davey Creeker, a number of years ago I had the opportunity to tour the Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum. Wonderful museum.
Sadly, due to the actions of the current government, I will not be able to visit Canada. Quite a shame. Enjoyed both of my visits.
So cool!! Now, I gather one of them is the 'Manarski' Lancaster? I remember seeing her at Abbotsford, I couldn't get over the size and height, simply amazing.
These 2 have had a long distance love affair and now have finally met...tremendous and a big thank you to all who keep them flying.
With out a bomb load they get in the air pretty quick. My Dad was with the RCAF and Lancasters and told me a story about one of their pilots who was a smaller man and Dad said really should have been flying fighters, but one mission this chap had a heck of a time wrestling his loaded Lancaster into the air and bounced it through the bomb dump at the end of the runway, spun the plane around and took off going the other way, he was going to Germany no matter what. These were men with serious courage.
Did you hear the one about the spoil heap near to the peri track? A Lanc. rear gunner used it to test his guns before takeoff. A wooden shack behind the pile of soil got hit by a few bullets, then the gunner saw a tramp exiting the door at high speed. The crew checked the shack the next day, no blood, just straw, a few bottles and some turds. (hardly surprising, really..)
Very much doubt the guy had trouble lifting the flight control surfaces,they would be no heavier then in any other take off,only the weight of payload,wind conditions or engine power would dictate wether or not you can get the aircraft off the ground 🤷♂️
@@markhepworth Fully loaded this wasn't an easy plane to get in the air, it is heavy. In an interview with WWII Lancaster pilot Lyle James he said "you have to remember when you went to take that thing off, it was, weighted 32 000 pounds and it carried 36 000 pounds. So it actually carried more than its weight. And you had to get that thing up from a standing start to 120 miles a hour, within less than a mile and that was the tough part. And like, I'm not very big and I had trouble controlling the pedals. And you would have to lock your left arm out because the torque of the aircraft wanted to, would go to the right. So, you'd have to hold onto the heavy part, and more than once maybe, I can't get it, "I'm not going to make it. I'm not going to make it." But then once that tail came up and you got the air flow over the tail, it was like a bird." www.veterans.gc.ca/eng/video-gallery/video/6792
My Dad's best mate was a tail gunner in a Lancaster during the war he was the size of a jockey a Scotsman from Glasgow he went deaf in these machines but said it was a grand way to see Europe!!
Thank you to all for your sacrifice RIP 🇦🇺🌺🙏
The sound of those Engines made the hair on the back of my neck stand up! What a fantastic sight seeing those two bombers taking off, I’d give anything to have a trip in one of those! Brilliant footage
I knew a man from Newfoundland who was a tail gunner in Lancasters throughout the war. He volunteered and did his bit. After the war, he went back to farming.
que de souvenirs 1944 1945 liberté quant tu venait du ciel tu brillé comme de l or
my step-father flew Lanc's... rcaf 36 missions dfc..he just passed last month at 100...
he preferred the radial engines they first had...me too.....Rest in Peace Bob...
and uncle Roger, who died in the turret of his 17....Rest in Peace Roger...L'est we forget...
Lovely too see 👀 these lovely planes in the sky.
And Ted your dancing was amazing.
Love to all ❤.
Voir deux magnifiques AVRO Lancaster voler de concerts c'est formidable! Et à entendre ces moteurs Merlin ensemble c'est très impressionnant! Merci du partage, un abonné de France! 🥰👍🇲🇫🇬🇧
J'ai vu à quelques reprises celui qui vole au Canada. C'était fabuleux à voir.
My late uncle was a tail gunner in 514 squadron out of waterbeach. Flew 30 operations then returned as gunnery instructor and flew more. He lived to tell the take but rarely did.
I saw the Mynarski Lancaster fly over my house while I was cutting the grass years ago. I was thrilled. Maybe twenty plus years ago. I hope to see her this summer.
We saw them at the beach when they came a day late , after the airshow . As we were on the train back , passing the end of the runway , a Spitfire and Hurricane took off over the train ; a minute later both Lancasters drew alongside the train at treetop height and followed us for a few minutes , before banking left over us and heading out over the Irish Sea for their next appearance in NI .
I've seen an old WWII picture of Prestwick airport, I think the photographer was standing down near those gates that lead to the tower. Looking out at the aprons there is a sea of parked Lancaster bombers and a few Flying Fortresses. A true wartime scene. Changed days.
Thank you for posting; that was an amazing summer tour..
Beautiful machines designed by a fellow Widnesian. Thanks Roy 😉
Pretty ballsy of the Canadians to fly that across the Atlantic for a visit
My son was allowed in the Canadian Lancaster at raf coningsby, not jealous much lol
Planes want to fly. You take care of them they'll stay in the air for decades. Look at the B52s who are being flown by the grandchildren of pilots who flew them in Vietnam. Helicopters yeah they don't want to fly hahaha.
I golf regularly at a course right near the home of the Lancaster Vera in Hamilton, Ontario. We are so lucky to see this aircraft fly over us on a regular basis and you can often hear it before you see it. We always stop to watch it and we never get tired of the spectacle. It's one of several planes we see on a regular basis. The Warplane Heritage Museum at Hamilton's Mount Hope Airport is really worth a visit.
Your are, !! Thank only Barns Wallace, for that, he was chief designer for AV Row, hence Avro Lancaster rgdsColin
I went there twice. It's a fabulous place to visit.
My Dad was a Lancaster pilot. He survived the war, and because of his surname- Boome- he was nicknamed Boomerang because he always came back.
I was at Eadt Kirkby the day these flew over NX611 Just Jane, 12 merlins roaring. Omg what a memory.
Reminds me of the Shackletons at Ballykelly ,flying almost hedge height in the Roe valley, Northern Ireland. Thank you for sharing this with us all,best wishes from the wirral peninsula,bounded by the mersey and the Dee and the Irish sea...geography and rhyme...E...
Brilliant piece of aeronautical history still flying.
Fantastic footage. Thank you for sharing
Glad you enjoyed it
Had a 60 min ride in Vera a few years ago. Just after she came back from this trip. $2500 slackers for the ride. Was money well spent. What a machine
What a sight it would be to see three flying together.
I remember when I was about 8 years seeing a Lancaster flying over Aldershot with the front and rear turrets painted orange.. Think it was about 1958.
Just after the war, my late father used to stand at the end of the runway at RAF Scampton and guide these beautiful old girls into landing.
Sureley there is no finer sound in all of aviation than 4 Merlin engines in close harmony !
8 Merlins would be the only thing I could think of.
I believe that barns Wallis was instrument in developing the Lancaster bomber and the bouncing bomb and Talbot bomb . I know his granddaughter personally. She lives in Nottingham. ??
Close Roy Chadwick gave us the Lanc, Barnes Wallis designed the Wellington, was responsible for the bouncing bomb though
Wonderful to see two of the old girls together. The throaty roar of those merlins has made my day.
Beautiful!!!!!!!! 🇬🇧 Thank You for the footage!!!!!!! Makes me want to build that 1/72nd Matchbox kit!!!!!!! Or at least pore over the instruction sheets.
What gorgeous airplanes! Thanks for the video.
Vera flew over my house in Belwood years ago. 4 Merlins make an unmistakable sound. A few years later B29 (B50) FiFi flew over it too. Again unmistakable sound of the Wasps.
Magnificent, simply magnificent!!
My Grandad was a tail gunner, thankfully he survived the war. RIP Grandad.
What, mate? A very lucky man and brave, .
Thank you Colin
Thank goodness they didn't fit 'Monica' to his turret.
Not easy to survive in the tail. Best
Always breaks my heart that so few of these old girls survived into preservation. Might not be as glamorous when compared to the fighters but just as important.
To think it was 9 years ago that Vera came over.
Thank you Canada
The of those four Merlin's, one of the reasons why this is my favourite aircraft
I used to live off the end of North Philadelphia Airport and would hear 4 P-51's taking off together, same sound :)
I live in the uk 🇬🇧 and I can’t wait for just jane & bbmf to take to the skies over Lincolnshire not long for just Jane 😊👍
Thanks for posting. Lovely footage.
Stood beside the Lancaster and the pilot put full throttle on the engines (brakes on) absolutely stunning listening to those 1000 hp, v12, Merlin engines,
Two are wonderful. Just imagine a full squadron. Beautiful
Well done!..Those Merlin engines were a hell of a piece of engineering.
That was a great summer. I had the privilege of flying in Thumper on that summer tour .
A magnificent sight and sound, a fitting tribute to all of the flight crews who flew them in anger and never returned, brave men all, does that make three airworthy machines in the world now?.
Two airworthy, plus one on the way. There's been quite a lot of crevice and lamination corrosion to deal with. Duralumin is light and strong but it does rot over the years.
@@thephilpott2194 thanks for that information Phil, i had heard about a mysterious third lanc but was unsure where it was or who was restoring it.
@@monteceitomoocher I think there is a Guy Martin video about it, he was allowed to taxi the aircraft from memory. I came across it a few weeks ago now, well worth watching.
beltin footage , it surprised me how quickly the tail end lifted up and how little runway they need to take off ( never seen that before now 👍
Back in July 1975 I visited the Strathallan Aircraft Collection (Auchterarder) with a friend. At that time they had Lancaster KB976 which was potentially airworthy. My friend asked someone at the collection if the short grass runway was long enough for a Lanc and the Strathallan guy said that Lancs could take off in just 2500 feet. Amazing.
I thought it might have something to do with the fact that they are not loaded up with bombs and perhaps full fuel tanks .
@@anthonycarty9433 maybe your right , it would be interesting to see one take off fully loaded wouldn't it 😊
Those wings lifted a ten ton bomb ( grand slam) with fuel and armaments for war missions. ‘Light’ those four merlins should simply bounce a lanc into its natural element.
I saw them on the way to Prestwick they circled round the town of Barnoldswick over the Rolls Royce factory where many of the Merlin engines were produced in the war
My uncle was a tail gunner on Wellingtons. That's about as much as we know. He never used to speak about it according to other family members.
My dad was in the raf in ww2 and used to load the bombs on them I have many photos of my dad standing next to the lanks I have a soft spot for this wonderful air craft
still getting goosebumps from the sound of those engines, that was a great day.
Just think on the Dambuster raid they flew at night and at @ 100ft can you imagine the concentration by these guys ...some were only 20yrs old.....unbelievable
Was the reason the Lanc didn’t have a belly gunner due to length of bomb bay doors?
Originally they did - the FN64. But, sighted by periscope, it was useless for tracking targets - especially at night. So it was just so much additional weight and drag. Therefore, the turret was deleted from the main production run, although many Hercules powered Mk IIs were equipped with it.
wish my dad could have seen that he was an RAF engineer working on Lancasters and spitfires in WW2
Trivia...An attendant at Coningsby told me they get about 15 landings out of those Lanc tyres before they need to be replaced...and the Spit MK IIa EBG (P7350) is the oldest airworthy Spitfire in the world and the only Spitfire still flying today to have actually fought in the Battle of Britain....So you're seeing the little one that defended the motherland and the unleashed beast that took the fight back to Germany....They might be a thing of beauty but make no bones about it those are masterful killing machines.
just reading " RAF Pathfinders" by Martyn Chorlton bless the Canadian, Polish, Jamaican, and British airmen so many brave men and the world is still a frigging mess. so so sad xx navy veteran in Suffolk England .
After all this time they are still exciting to watch and fuel the adrenaline, if you haven't you really need to hear the growl of four Merlins!
As a kid I would walk under Vera as she was placed on the lakeshore atop a monument. never thought she would take to the sky again.
Simply spectacular!
A few years after this tour I managed to get a flight to Canada and flew out of Hamilton in VERA highlight was circling Niagara Falls invading USA airspace and thundering back over Lake Ontario towards Toronto. Oh don’t take your earphones off when you’re in the cockpit next to 4 Merlin’s in the back it’s ok but my eardrums nearly left my head!
Lest we forget 58,000 did not come back. They fought a bloody war in the air, I lost an Uncle, he was a rear gunner in a Lanc, never knew him . Uncle John, I just saw the Photos when I was a kid he looked very smart film star like in his RAF uniform.
Unfortunately we couldn't attend both Saturday and Sunday that Year so we took the decision to go for the Sunday as that was the Static Day at Prestwick which by luck happened to be the day that the Lancasters did make it having cancelled the Saturday due Weather, fantastic to see them both, unfortunately neither my still or video camera decided they didn't want to take pics or footage of the Spitfire and Hurricane but it did take a couple of ok ones of the Lancasters. After this show I didn't see the BBMF Lancaster for about 10 Years as the next time after this fantastic and very emotional Flypast I would see the BBMF Lancaster would be This Year 2024 over both Blackpool and Ayr.....
If you're visiting southern Ontario, Canada, do make the trip to the Hamilton Mt. Hope airport and the Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum. See the Lancaster VERA and many more flying and static vintage aircraft. You can book rides in many, including VERA. Gret displays and a wonderful gift shop.
Arrived there with a tail wheel assembly we recovered from the ocean in Holland . Turned out they had no need of it in 97. Mike Spence's father flew delivery across the pond of the forked devils . Wonder what happened to uncle Dave's little hobby ranch at the end of the runway .
Would absolutely love to fly in a Lancaster ❤
The 4 engined heavy bombers won the war. We should always be grateful to them and their brave crews for what they did.
My dad used to fly these..RAF 49Sq.
Thanks for posting 👍🏼
Yes the repair crew 👍 I thought thumper would not be flying again . 👏proud moment
Beautiful. So beautiful ❤❤❤❤
Fantastic to see two at the same time. I only get to fly them in VR.
Had both fly over the house in Didcot Oxfordshire amazing sound both together
Oh to be able to three Lancs once 'Just Jane' takes to the air again ! I just hope I live long enough to see it........
G'Day, Well what can you say, this old bloke has a tear in his Eye🥲, Beautiful sight to see🤗
I'm booked for a ride on Vera on Sept 23
Oh nice one! Enjoy that Sean!
If there is one thing that will keep future generations in touch with the Greatest Generation, it's the warbirds.
What a wonderful sight to have seen! Just magical! 👏👏👏👏👏👏👌
Not a first though. I photographed the pair flying together at Southend-on-Sea UK as far back as 23 August 2014.
Very rare moment first class 👏 tribute to the people who maintain these beautiful flying old ladies two majestic bombers and they represent all who never came back and ground crew's who kept them flying respect 👏🙏
Not sure what gives a greater sense of nostalgia, the sound of the Lancasters or the sound of actual camera shutters. LMFAO!
My great uncle flew a lancaster in ww2 x
Air Museum at East Fortune /East Lothian have a Sopwith Strutter nearing completion ,awaiting its wings.
Great video, apart from the wind noise. Maybe invest in a mic that damps that out 🤔
I have a movie clip, albeit a little shaky, of these two flying over my house with a Vulcan as they did a fly pass over the Bomber Command Centre in Lincoln, the sound was awesome! Living so close the the BCC means we get to see the City of Lincoln Lancaster fairly often during the summer, I always stop doing whatever I'm doing and watch in awe!
Thanks I have a Rode External Microphone that I use nowadays, this is old footage
As my surname is Lancaster these have to be my favorite plane.
Shame it's not Mosquito.
I wonder if all the fockers in Germany feel the same😊