On Thursday, 21 August, RAF Waddington in Lincolnshire was the scene for a unique gathering of bomber aircraft tracing 70 years of development in the delivery of air power by the Royal Air Force. World War 2, the Cold War and contemporary operations were all represented by 2 Lancaster Bombers, one Avro Vulcan and a Typhoon from 29 Sqn based at RAF Coningsby which gave a fly past in salute to its veteran forbears.

Posing for the cameras on the ground was the Royal Air Force Battle of Britain Memorial Flight’s Avro Lancaster PA474 and the Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum’s Avro Lancaster KB726 “Vera” (C-GVRA) alongside Avro Vulcan XH558, whilst the Typhoon flew fast and low overhead.

The Canadian Lancaster is in the UK on a six week visit during which time it will appear with the BBMF Lancaster, Spitfire and Hurricane at air shows and public events right across the country. “The opportunity to team up with the Vulcan prior to the three aircraft setting off to overfly the turf cutting ceremony for the International Bomber Command Memorial in Lincoln was too good to miss!” said Sqn Ldr Duncan Mason, OC BBMF.

During World War 2 RAF Waddington was home to 420 Sqn Royal Canadian Air Force. 50,000 thousand Canadians flew with Bomber Command and some 10,000 lost their lives. Today those close bonds between our two countries are as strong as ever. Major Wesley Oke RCAF is currently serving at RAF Waddington as part of a long standing exchange programme between the RAF and the RCAF. Wesley, an aerospace engineer with the UK Joint Electronic Warfare Operational Support Centre, said: “I am very proud to be able to witness such a sterling tribute to Canada’s and the United Kingdom’s shared aviation history.”

As well as entertaining thousands of adoring fans the two Lancasters will be paying tribute to all the men and women of both the UK and Canada who served and those who died during World War 2. “That,” said Dunc Mason “is precisely what the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight is all about, remembering those people and ensuring that their extraordinary story is passed on to new generations.

Coyyright: UK DOD

Photos: Flight Sergeant Andy Carnall and Sergeant Si Pugsley