Meeting of the last two airworthy Lancasters - ‘Thumper’ meets Vera
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- Опубліковано 12 сер 2014
- Although 7,377 Lancaster aircraft were produced between 1941 and 1946, only two remain airworthy. One (a Mk 1 nicknamed ‘Thumper’) is maintained by the RAF’s Battle of Britain Memorial Flight (BBMF), and the other by the Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum (CWHM).
These classic aircraft came together for the first time as CWHM’s ‘Vera’ (named for its identification markings V-RA), a Mk X Lancaster arrived in England after a transatlantic flight from its home in Ontario, Canada for the start of a tour which will see the two Lancasters flying together to please crowds at 60 venues across the UK.
The event concluded with Bomber Command Veterans receiving their Bomber Command clasps from the Station Commander of RAF Coningsby Group Captain Johnny Stringer .
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“Vera” has shaken the windows of our home several times here in Ontario. She’s a proud old girl and we’re happy you got to see her!
Wonderful tribute and what a brave mission flying a 70 odd year old aircraft with no heating except the cockpit over such a stretch of water as the North Atlantic and Greenland. Lovely seeing the station commander paying tribute to the last few wwii aircrew very very brave men we owe them so much
Respect to all who flew these mighty and majestic planes into repeated battles.... lump in my throat every time I see or hear their engines thrum on any screen - and, in the flesh when, in the summer of 2014 minding our own business in Tawney Common in Essex, these two warriors flew low over the fields beside the empty country road - we stopped the car in utter disbelief, surprise and awe - just us and them - a heart stopping privilege never to be forgotten 👌🏻
Two gorgeous big birds, and much thanks to the Canadian pilots who fought for us. Much love 💘 from England 🇬🇧
So proud of our Canadian servicemen and the Heritage museum for this. Love seeing the two fly together. One is church music, two, well, heaven. This brought me to tears, the whole thing.
So proud of our Canadian crew! Now bring Thumper to Canada so we can enjoy seeing the 2 Lancasters flying together.
That is something that would be AWESOME
I'm in Hamilton, and heard Vera flying over our house on a test run several weeks ago before she left for the UK. I ran outside in time to see her tail vanishing behind the neighbour's chimneys. I remember that some of my school classmates back in the 1980s told me that their dads were helping out with the lengthy restoration project, to get the plane airworthy again. The dads are now very elderly or have passed on, and they would be so gratified to hear how delighted people are, seeing Vera joining Thumper and the Spitfires for this tour.
Lisa Kadonaga Hey us too. It’s great we have this in our “backyard” and skies.
If you're visiting southern Ontario, Canada, do visit the Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum at Mt. Hope airport near Hamilton, Ontario. See the Lancaster and many more great vintage aircraft. You can book a ride on many of the planes.
There is no American I know who, hearing the growl and seeing the majesty of these iconic aircraft, does not immediately know of them in service with a deep emotional reality. I simply cannot possibly imagine what happens to these Brits when they do. Simply amazing! Thank you so much!
+Bud Fields (PPTS) I live near VerA and hear her almost every Weekend as she fly's the Shore line of Lake Ontario Followed by a B-25 As my Grandfather must of seen flying over head going to Normandy Those planes have many ghost
I used to live near Vera too and I miss hearing her fly over the city. I always loved seeing her.
soaringtractor
You seem to have a proclivity for "wee willies", Wilbur/Soaringtractor. Seems to be your thing, not that there's anything wrong with that. Godspeed my gay friend.
I have the privilege of befriending a Lancaster captain one Geoffrey Marlow age 92+. He piloted Miss Canada 30 missions over Germany mostly on night operations. It is such a delight to know Geoffrey even in his latter years. He loves watching all the you Tube clips available to relive the most exciting years of his fantastic life. I am in perpetual awe of this guy and we meet every week for lunch and great ranging discussions. I am so lucky. He is so cool by any standard!!
I remember a few years back during a remembrance day ceremony I attended outside Vera did a low fly over our school the moment we finished singing the Canadian national anthem. Makes me proud to be Canadian.
i love how frequent they fly Vera over my city of Hamilton the amount of times ive fallen down the stairs to see her after hearing the roar of her engines.
lol. This is so true, I always run outside to see Vera fly over as well.
Just got back from our holiday in Eastbourne. The whole airshow was incredible. Got a lump in my throat several times. We got a Mk1 Spitfire and of course the BofB Flight with the Canadian Lancaster. The sound of all those beautiful engines was stimulating. You could get quite poetic about it all. Special thanks to the Canadians for a wonderful achievement.
It was an absolute thrill to see Vera a couple of years ago with the only Mosquito that was airworthy at the time, 2 Spitfires and 2 Hurricanes at the Warplane Heritage Museum in Hamilton, Ontario. I have seen Vera fly several times and everyone in her hometown always runs outside to look. It never gets routine. My late father was in the 410 Mosquito Squadron.
I can confirm. I lived in Hamilton and everyone was always thrilled to see Vera.
guy Gibson would be proud to see these two together.amazing.
This gives me pride to be a Canadian. And there’s not too much to be proud of lately.
Real Heroes of this country. Not a politician in sight thank God for that.
Brilliant, best freinds from across the sea.
The Canada Lancaster is a memorial to Andrew Mynarski VC who was killed in flight operations over europe. There is a junior high school named after him in Winnipeg Manitoba Canada.
A tear to my eye , our brave brave veterans , long over due .
They've just flown over our house. An absolutely amazing sight! I'm so lucky to live near to Coningsby and East Kirkby!
Anyone who gets a chance should visit the Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum at the Hamilton International Airport in Ontario. Besides Vera you can see a Spitfire, a replica Hurricane, a B-25 Mitchell, a CF-5 Freedom Fighter and over 40 other vintage aircraft, among numerous other displays. If you can spare the money, you can buy flights in quite a few (good luck getting a flight in the Lancaster - that seems to require some legwork and a fair bit of waiting). Well-maintained place with passionate volunteers and staff. A bit of a "sleeper" destination, as I think too few people realise it's there.
"Two greats Lancaster and B17 flying fortress. 🇬🇧🇺🇲
Vra flew low over my work today twice before heading back to Hamilton. Usually once a week I see it fly over niagara falls. I can tell it's coming by the sound of her engines roaring.
They Gave Their Yesterdays That We Might Have All of Our Tomorrows
Very moving Video,Respect to those who were there that flew the Lancaster ,We salute you and Thank you so much for your service and for those who sacrificed themselves WE WILL REMEMBER 😢. To the 2 that gave it the thumbs down you both haven't got a CLUE what these Brave Old boys did and Sacrifice ,Very moving to watch this 😢
I was lucky enough to see these two on the south coast of England when Vera was over, beautiful to see and hear....definitely made it a holiday to remember for me
As my dad would tell you,( ex raf rigger), these aircraft have souls. I bet they had a long chat
After seeing 3 Lancs at East Kirkby on the 7th Sept. Visited BBMF Coningsby the following day. We asked about a reciprocal visit to Canada, Told very unlikely as Thumper is only allowed 100 hours flying per year. So her flying in the UK would be curtailled, if she went to Canada. That I would happily sacrifice, to return the compliment from the magnificent visit from Canada. Canada, Thank you so much
It would have been amazing to see them fly together here. I can only imagine what it would have sounded like when there was a full stream of lancs flying overhead, it must have been really intimidating.
Sorry, looks like that won't happen in Canada. I thank Canada for sending us Vera. We had a great view and sounds of Merlin Engines. It was a great occasion. Thank you Canada.
***** Rats. Well, from what I've heard they are trying to repair another Cdn lanc so it can be airworthy. Hopefully it will allow us to have the same experience.
are you referring to KB882? from what little i know they can only afford to restore it as a static display only which is sad... but she's going to a proper museum and it's better than rotting away by the side of the road facebook.com/LancasterKB882/
fabulousprofound I thought that when a buyer was found for KB882 she was dismantled and sent by rail
to Edmonton ? Now i come to find she's in a museum in Ontario ( correct ). I totally agree with you, it is sad
that this Lanc will be restored to " static " display. One would think that someone who " wins big " in the lotto would be so magnanimous as to step up and get things going, proper. Perhaps down the road some
day it may happen. One can only hope or ( win big time ) on both accounts. Cheers.
If the old warbirds could talk! Just like the last veterans we have left at commemorations today. “Hard to believe we’re really the last two, eh Thumper?”
“Feels so odd now. This runway used to be so much fuller all those years ago…. All those good wings we lost then and now…”
(I’ve seen “Vera” fly just once, at the Trenton air show when I was 8! It was beautiful and huge and brought out a huge crowd.)
Such brave men.I thank you from the bottom of my heart
Too bad Thumper is on such a short leash, we practically use Vera to go grocery shopping lol! Buzzes over my baseball games every Sunday.
Perhaps Thumper and Vera can get together and produce lots of big healthy babies?
All Lancasters were girls due to their all male crew
My uncle flew these aircraft in WW 2 he would tell me stories of them it's a pity he is not here to see them would have brought tears to his eyes. There are several Lancasters that are at taxiing capability we should try to get at least one or two more to flying status. A great aircraft needs more flying examples
Beautiful.
no we won't forget, we are reminded every day
Felix Bloxham VERA flies over my city weekly im certainly not forgetting
Great video of the Lancaster arriving from Canada.
In June I was fortunate enough to get up in the Canadian one VRA. Link attached for that flight Flight in a Lancaster Bomber
two gorgoues avro lancasters and my favorite aircraft and also the gorgoues avro vulcan and the raf is still the best airforce in the world 😊
Glad to see the RAF still paying tribute to it's WW2 airmen,can't recall seeing the same sort of ceremonies done here in the states "as often" by the USAF unfortunately!
Jman
Thanks very much for this. My uncle Kenneth Clapp was a radar (H2S I believe) operator on board a Lancaster bomber. He called the radar set the "Magic Eye". Pity I don't know which squadron he was with. Is there a way to look it up?
Do visi the Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum at Mt. Hope airport near Hamilton, Ontario See the 'Lanc and other great aircraft. Check out their website too.
I hope that Professional stereo recordings are made
of the both of the planes together...
Both from inside the planes & from the ground.
At idle and in flight,
for future generations to hear & comprehend.
If I ever had the money to have a company build me a $10,000 music system... That would be the first thing I'd play.
What a great idea, that would be amazing to hear
The men of Bomber Command so badly treated after the war. #wewillrememberthem
I live in the Netherlands where almost all villages and towns have Bomber Command crews buried.
Am too young to know the sound, but old and wise enough to know the truth that if not for these tools and the courageous men who flew in them, Germany would have brought a violent end the Great Britian and much of mainland Europe and Africa. A tour of a Lancaster and the role they played should be a fundamental part of the school education system
There is a restored Lanc in the aviation museum here in Perth , Australia. Its not airworthy as it requires four rebuilt or new engines. It needs a cash injection of some ONE MILLION plus Dollars to get it certified as ready to fly. The museum relies on public donations, its not forth coming and I doubt it will ever fly. However I met someone I knew who lives here in Australia. I havent seen her in 40 + years. She told me that her father who is 94 and spends most of the time in bed in a nursing home. He was the the Navigator in the Lancaster Bombers on the Dam Buster raid then on the bombing of Dresden and Berlin. On his last flight his Lanc was shot to pieces. The pilot was killed but George baled out with three of the crew. Landed in an open paddock and was captured by the Hitler Youth . He was a POW for ten months and after the war made his way to Africa and ended up in South Africa. In all the years I have known this man, he never ever revealed to anyone about his role in WW11. His daughter who I knew when she was 20 and now 64, told me about his exploits and sent me copies from his log book and the planes he was in. I dont know how many WW!! Veterans were at this parade, but some are frail but alert. I would hazard a pure guess and say there must be about 12 remaining members of Bomber Command. Sadly George doesnt recognise anyone except his wife. Both his daughter have been to South Africa to see him, but he had no idea who they were. Sad indeed . The girls have said they wont be going back.
They are not the "last" though. NX611 Just Jane will make three.
magagandang lalaki pa din ang mga Tatay,magandang araw po sa inyo,mabuhay po kayo
Freedom.
As wonderful as it is to see this i can't say its worth putting Vera and its crew at risk making that journey. Those birds are way too rare.Safe journey home Vera
It's a pitty that the old RAAF and RNZAF crews can't see a Lancaster flying over Australia or New Zealand
I agree wholeheartedly. I wish there was some way they could have airborne worthy planes! They played a very important role in Bomber Command too.
BLOODY TYPICAL AUGUST WEATHER FOR BRITAIN.
If only they could breed!!!
Thumper & Vera- that’s not their names
Thumper? Make babies with Vera? I've only ever heard Bomber Command crews refer to their planes as "she" - hard-working, stoic, reliable (sounds like a mum). Never ever referred to as a bloke.
Thumper was a boy wabbit as far as I can remember.......perhaps they should change her name? and spoil the dream.......