The beginning.

  Lancaster NX 611 was built by Austin Motors at Longbridge, Birmingham and emerged in April 1945, too late to enter World War II in Europe. She was the first of 150 B Mk VIIs, finished to Far East standards for Tiger Force, fitted with the Martin dorsal turret and Frazer Nash FN 82 rear turret, both with 2 x 0.5 inch guns, and Merlin 24 engines suitable for operations in the tropics. Delivered new to 38 MU Llandow, she was destined to remain there as surplus to requirements because of Japan's early surrender, until 1952.

French service.

  NX 611, was one of 54 Lancasters sold to the French Naval Air Arm, L'Aeronavale in 1952. Under a Western Union agreement, the French were to supplement the R.A.F. patrolling the Atlantic and Mediterranean shipping lanes. Having been converted to Maritime Reconnaissance standard, she was collected by a French Navy ferry crew, from Avro's at Woodford (Cheshire) on May 30th 1952, having been painted midnight blue and coded WU 15. These modifications included, the removal of the mid-upper turret, the fitting of an airborne lifeboat attachment, and the provision of ASV radar, etc. For the next 10 years WU 15 served on patrol and air sea rescue duties with a number of "Flotilles", based at Lann-Bihoue (Brittany) and at Port-Lyautey and Agadir (both Morocco). In November 1962, after an overhaul by Union des Transports Aerians at Le Bourget, repainted white overall, WU 15 was ferried to Noumea, New Caledonia, a French island 1000 miles east of Australia. The delivery flight, undertaken by Capitaine de Corvette Jean P Angelini and crew of the Ferry Squadron, Escadrille de Reception and Convoyage; started from Le Bourget on November 3rd and was routed via Malta, Istanbul, Tehran, Karachi, New Delhi, Calcutta, Phnom-Penh, Singapore, Djakarta, Bali, Darwin and Townsville. Noumea was reached on November 26th.

Timely approach.

  Meanwhile, 13,000 miles away over in England, a group of enthusiasts called the Historic Aircraft Preservation Society (HAPS), had anticipated the French decision and already made enquiries, regarding the chances of preserving one of these aircraft. The original request, made some twelve months previously, yielded no response. One day, out of the blue, the French authorities wrote to the Society, offering not only to donate a Lancaster, but also to deliver it as far as Australia or New Zealand.

  Hurried arrangements were made and in August 1964, Lancaster (NX 611) landed near Sydney. The minimum cost of an overhaul and flight to the UK was about £10,000, so months of negotiations and fund-raising followed. With generous help from the R.A.A.F, Shell Petroleum, the R.A.F, Quantas (who lent radio equipment for the flight), Hawker Siddeley Group, money from holidaymakers on Sydney's beaches and subscriptions from enthusiasts all over the world the flight home began to look possible. On 23rd April she was re-located to Mascot near Sydney, at that time the World's only airworthy Lancaster.

Homeward bound.

  On the 25th April 1965, and with the following crew: (comprising current or recently retired R.A.A.F. & airline personnel, most having served on Lancasters operationally during the war) Captain John M. Hampshire DFC, 1st Officer Douglas H Smedley DFC, 2nd Officer John B Nicholls DFC, Radio Operator Arthur Johnston, Navigator Keith McCarthy DFC AFM, PRO Pat Kilvington, Flight Engineer Don Delaney CMSA, Organiser & Flight Manager Bruce Miles, Flight Stewards George Parlby and Jack Birney, Press Officer Derrill Farrer she began the 12,000 mile trip to Biggin Hill in Kent, the white Lancaster was still bearing the L'Aeronavale markings, but with a British civil registration G-ASXX. The route taken was, Sydney (Mascot), Coolangatta, Amberley, Darwin, Changi, Butterworth, Calcutta (Dum Dum), Karachi, Bahrein (Muharraq), Akrotiri, Istres (Marseilles), and finally Biggin Hill. After 19 days and 70hrs flying time, at 16:15 on 13th May 1965, the Lancaster arrived safely at Biggin Hill. Her total air time from new was 2411 hours.

Grounded.

  Due to the expiry of permitted hours on an engine and prop she was grounded by the Air Registration Board. Restoration work soon got under way, members of HAPS and from other walks of life got involved, the white paint was stripped down to bear metal, a new coat of paint was put on, this time it was night bomber black & camouflage. The R.A.F. serial NX 611 was re-applied, and the code letters HA-P (not only the initials of the Historic Aircraft Preservation Society, but a genuine wartime Lancaster unit code, No 218 (Gold Coast) Squadron). The aircraft was named Guy Gibson at a ceremony performed by Mr. Gibson senior. After nearly two years of hard work, including that by Field Aircraft Services (Hunting Group), on the engines and other systems, the restoration was finished.

Airborne again.

  On May 6th 1967 the first test flight was undertaken, and following a few minor incidents, a 30 minute test flight was completed successfully on 17th May. The weekend of 19/20th May brought her on her first real outing, to RAF Scampton for the 24th anniversary of the Dams Raid. The next display was at Blackbushe on 2/3rd September 1967, sponsored by the St. John Ambulance Brigade, at both shows the Lancaster's fighter-like handling qualities were demonstrated by Flt Lt Neil Williams, an R.A.F. test pilot and well known international aerobatics champion, who was captain on all of its 14 flights in the UK. It was hoped to keep her flying regularly at displays but the cost, £2-300 per hour, and the fact that the RAF had PA 474 flying again brought about a shortage of much needed sponsors.

New home sought.

  HAPS soon wound up and was taken over by Reflectaire Ltd. Notice was given for the new company to leave Biggin Hill. On the 30th March 1969 NX 611 landed at Lavenham, Suffolk a former U.S.A.A.F. base. Here the code letters HA-P were replaced with the letters GL-C, the initials of Group Captain Leonard Cheshire VC DSO DFC following his visit to the airfield, a visit that gave him the chance to taxi NX 611 and the temptation he only just resisted to open her up and take off. Attempts to lease the airfield at Lavenham were not successful so permission was granted for a temporary home again. On 7th February 1970, with the actor Richard Todd on board recording a TV commentary, and also renewing his acquaintance with the Lancasters that dated back to 1953 when he played Guy Gibson in the Dambusters, NX 611 flew to Hullavington, Wilts. Here she was completely re-painted by the 2 full-time employees of Reflectaire Ltd, inspected by Rolls Royce and Hawker Siddeley (Woodford), who discovered a serious defect in the starboard inner engine. This resulted in the engine being removed and transported by road to a specialist company on the south coast, here the engine was stripped down and a new cylinder head was found, fitted and subjected to a 4 hour pressure test. When the airframe was X-rayed it was found to be quite sound apart from a small crack in an engine bearer, this was not considered critical. Following retraction and engine tests, the aircraft was cleared on a special certificate of airworthiness for "one flight of 3 hours".

  On the 26th June she took her last flight, for at least the next 2 decades, to Blackpool, where an aeronautical museum was planned. It was hoped to maintain her in flying condition but, the nearest she came to flying was doing engine run ups and taxiing for ITV's "Family at War". But the company got into difficulties and the Official Receiver was called in. All the exhibits, including Lot 63 (NX611), were put up for auction in April 29th 1972, and the Lancaster had to be withdrawn because she failed to draw enough interest and bids were too low. However 2 days later she was sold privately to a bidder, the Rt. Hon Lord Lilford of Nateby, who hoped to keep her in Britain. The engines had been run up for the auction and there were hopes that it might still fly again. However, having stood out for 2 years in Blackpool's salty air, and without care, things had to be done quickly to save her from ending up being turned into scrap.

The saving of Lancaster NX 611