Relics of Bomber Command can be found in museums across the World, but what is left in 'Bomber County', Lincolnshire? It's a long way from London but I made the trip earlier this week for a quick 'tour' of Bomber Command relics. I was very lucky to pick an absolutely perfect, English late-Autumn day. Arriving very early in the morning at Fiskerton, the morning mist was just lifting from the remains of one of the old runways... Very few buildings remain, but I found the old debriefing room ( now being used as a stable ) by a nearby country lane. Here, crews would have described the great raids ; Hamburg, Peenemunde, Berlin, the Nuremburg Raid.... Back at the runway, a very tasteful memorial has been placed in a grove of trees alongside the concrete. Fiskerton was 'home' to 49 Squadron, 5 Group. 117 Lancasters flew from here and never returned. I couldn't resist one conceit ; I'd taken along a model Lancaster which I perched on a fence at the runway. Careful photography, bright sunlight, and a little 'Photobucketry' did the rest..... Back into the car and off to my next stop....
...which was RAF Metheringham, just a few miles away. The only Squadron to operate from here was 106 ( 5 Group ), who lost 65 Lancasters and won one of Bomber Command's VCs flying from here. A minor road uses one of the old runways ; it's strange to drive here listening to the thump-bump of the tyres over the old concrete. You are literally pointing straight at Berlin...... This is a quiet place, and on such a day as this the 'atmosphere' can be easily felt.... And, alongside the old perimeter track, another memorial... Onwards again......
In a remote spot of Lincolnshire, RAF East Kirkby ( former home of 57 and 630 Squadrons, also with 5 Group and also Lancasters...) has been restored by the farming Panton brothers as a tribute to their late brother Christopher, killed while flying with Bomber Command. Their 'star exhibit' is, of course, Lancaster NX611 'Just Jane'.... Which is regularly 'fired-up' for taxy-runs.... If only I could post the sound here - it is quite amazing, especially when you are this close.... A final blast for my ear-drums... The museum has many fascinating relics, including a full-size practice 'Upkeep' Dambuster mine. Incredible to think of this, 5 tons and spinning beneath a Lanc..... A chance to get 'up close' with NX611... Est Kirkby is a wonderful memorial to Bomber Command. Can any view be more 'authentic' than this....? It was a long way back home for me that day, but it was worth the trip !
Those pics remind me of my favorite USAAC/F film set in the UK... YouTube - Twelve O'Clock High (Opening)
That scene was one of the very things that set me off hunting for 'old Air Ministry concrete' years ago - ironically it was shot in Florida !
Martin, did you ever notice the two bulls off to the side of the runway fighting? (I guess FL was cheaper to travel to than England from Hollywood)
Just a couple more - the interior of the watch office ( or 'tower' ) has been painstakingly restored and is very atmospheric ( also - it's reputed to be haunted...) But to stand this close ( no telephoto used here...) to those engines on full throttle is quite an experience - I only wish I could post the sound.... Well, that's 'it' for 2009. No more warbird experiences until the Winter's over......
Fantastic photos, Martin. I visited RAF East Kirkby a few years ago...only to find that it was closed, i had to content myself with peering through the perimeter fence. The sound of those Merlin engines at such close proximity must have been amazing.
