Saved.

  It was a Lincolnshire farmer and Lancaster enthusiast, Fred Panton who, having hoped to purchase the aircraft himself, persuaded the RAF to take over the preservation themselves. In January 1973 Squadron Leader John Partridge inspected the aircraft and decided that the dismantling, transportation and restoration to a static exhibit was within the scope of the Scampton enthusiasts.

The rescue operation.

  In August 1973, Lord Lilford generously offered NX 611 on long loan, and a party of 11 men from RAF Scampton, led by WO Peter Higgins MBE, working to a strict budget took the Lancaster apart ready for transportation back to Scampton. Very little Lancaster ground support equipment remained in the R.A.F., but some that could be adapted was borrowed from 71 MU Bicester and R.A.F. Waddington lent them special tools used for PA474. It took 9 days to take her apart in the worst weather there could be, and 6 Queen Mary lowloaders to carried it all to Scampton. The internal refurbishing required lots of detective work and "negotiation" to replace instruments, gauges and other missing items.

  The following is a list of some of the crew involved in this mammoth operation: WO Higgins (supervision), Chf Tech Brian Stark, Sgt Rodge Collins, Cpl Colin Oliver and the members of the Mech Eng (Air) Sqn Avionics Section, who painstakingly restored all flight instruments, bombsight, front and rear turrets. Cpl Steve Payne, Jnr Tech Emo Emerson and SAC Ray Davies of the Hydraulic and Tyre Bays who refurbished the undercarriages and wheels. Sgt Jim O'Sullivan and his men who stripped the entire paintwork and refinished the Lanc to a very high standard. Chf Tech Pete Cooke and Sgt Jess Harker who were in from the beginning and with the Visiting Aircraft Section carried out the final assembly at the Main Gate. Cpl Gordon Clayforth and SAC Chris Moss who cleaned, inhibited and preserved the engines. Chf. Tech. Tom Turner, who did the carpentry work, including the dummy guns; and lastly, Jnr. Tech. Jock Anderson who worked many long hours both as a member of the dismantling party and on the rebuilding and refurbishment of the airframe inside and out.

The Scampton years.

  By March 1974 the restoration work was nearly complete enabling weathering trials to check for water entering the body. On the 25th April NX611 became the Gate Guardian of RAF Scampton, it was officially handed over for safekeeping by the RAF on 17th May 1974, by the Rt. Hon Lord Lilford who unveiled a plaque and handed the Station Commander, Group Captain J.B.Fitzpatrick, the Form 700 (NX 611's servicing record). Under the nose of the aircraft were placed examples of the R.A.F.'s 2 largest wartime bombs, a 12,000 lb Tallboy, and 22,000 lb Grand Slam; later a trials version of the Bouncing Bomb was added, all 3 designed by Sir Barnes Wallis. For fourteen years this beautifully restored aircraft was admired by many as it stood guard at the gates of Scampton, a worthy memorial to the air and ground-crews of Bomber Command. Even my brother and I had a look around her whilst she was stationed there. The 10 year loan was coming near the end in 1983 and concern over the future of NX 611 was expressed.

A new ERA.