Lincolnshire Aviation Heritage Centre
East Kirkby
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Located at the former RAF airfield of East Kirkby, The Lincolnshire Aviation Heritage Centre (LAHC) has established itself as one of the premier aviation sites in the UK, if not the world.
The Panton brothers, Fred and Harold, have built the site in memory of their brother, Plt Off Christopher Panton, who was lost on the Nuremberg Raid over the night of 30/31 March 1944 while flying as a Flight Engineer on Handley Page Halifax III HX272 'Nielson's Nuthouse' of No. 433 (Porcupine) Squadron RCAF. The centre also commemorates all those who did not return from Bomber Command operations throughout the war. |
The Nuremberg Raid was the single most significant loss to the RAF bomber campaign, where 94 aircraft did not return. Silksheen, which was East Kirkby's call sign in wartime, dispatched 16 Lancasters from No. 630 Squadron, of which 3 were lost on the Nuremberg Raid, and No. 57 Squadron sent 18 Lancasters with 1 loss.
Silksheen lost many aircraft over the wartime period, and the LAHC does a superb job in keeping the memories alive of all those who did not return. In reality, those lost and who served in Bomber Command have received very little recognition for their courage and sacrifice. Luckily this has been addressed, although rather late in the day, with the Bomber Command Memorial in Green Park London and the International Bomber Command Centre in Lincoln.
The star of the show at East Kirkby is Avro Lancaster VII NX611, Just Jane. The Lancaster performs regular taxi runs at the Centre, but the highlight is the annual night taxi run which is a truly emotive occasion. A visit to the restored Watch Tower is also a must as it brings to life many of the derelict ones seen on disused airfields.
The Watch Tower was also the location of the emotive documentary made in the 1980s featuring the former Lancaster pilot, Jack Currie. This documentary is a must-see for anyone with an interest in Bomber Command history and can be viewed by following this link: www.youtube.com
The star of the show at East Kirkby is Avro Lancaster VII NX611, Just Jane. The Lancaster performs regular taxi runs at the Centre, but the highlight is the annual night taxi run which is a truly emotive occasion. A visit to the restored Watch Tower is also a must as it brings to life many of the derelict ones seen on disused airfields.
The Watch Tower was also the location of the emotive documentary made in the 1980s featuring the former Lancaster pilot, Jack Currie. This documentary is a must-see for anyone with an interest in Bomber Command history and can be viewed by following this link: www.youtube.com
Opening times and general information regarding the LAHC can be found here: www.lincsaviation.co.uk
Lincolnshire has always been associated with No. 617 Squadron, who undertook most famously the Dams Raid in May 1943 and many other high profile operations during World War Two. Without doubt, the Squadron's most famous son was Guy Gibson, who led the raid and was lost in circumstances not fully understood while flying a Mosquito with No. 627 Squadron from RAF Woodhall Spa over Holland on 19/20 September 1944.
After the Dams Raid, Gibson was taken off operational flying, much to his dislike, and was given a number of ground postings. One of these was to East Kirkby, where he assisted the base operations officer in planning raids. However, his stay at East Kirkby was brief, and he moved onto RAF Coningsby as Base Air Staff Officer.
None of the specially modified Lancasters survived into preservation, but East Kirkby does have the control yoke and throttle quadrant from Gibson's Lancaster B III Type 464 Provisioning ED932 AJ-G, which was scrapped at Scampton after the war's end.
The control yoke from Lancaster Lancaster B III Type 464 Provisioning ED932 AJ-G as flown by Guy Gibson during the Dam Busters Raid May 1943
One of the highlights of LAHC is the restored Watch Tower. The tower has been renovated to show a typical scene during a night operation. An audio soundtrack brings it to life, and below the photo can be found a sound recording of Just Jane as she passes the tower after a taxi run. Let your mind wander and imagine this could have been what it was like over 75 years ago.
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Audio of Just Jane with engines running outside the Watch Tower
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During the winter of 2016/2017, in a step towards returning to flight, NX611 was stripped of all paint to enable airframe assessment and inspection. This work gave the rare opportunity to see a Lancaster in a condition of natural metal finish, much like would have been seen on a production line.
Just Jane earns revenue during the spring, summer and autumn months through taxy runs and, to this end, was repainted back to her usual colour scheme at the start of the 2017 season. This is a process that will be repeated over the coming years to enable the return to flight.
NX611 seen here in August 2017 following her repaint after the winter's restoration works.
In mid-January 2017, the former Bomber Command airfield at East Kirkby saw the arrival of Jeremy Hall's cockpit and composite fuselage of Canadian built Lancaster X AR KB976. Formerly located at RAF Scampton, KB976 has taken up residence with the LAHC for an unspecified period of time. (This exhibit has now relocated to St Mawgan in Cornwall).
In late July 2017, De Havilland Mosquito NF.II HJ711 arrived at East Kirkby from her former home at the Yorkshire Air Museum Elvington. This aircraft is a composite, but the real HJ711 once flew with No. 169 Squadron based at RAF Little Snoring and is credited with shooting down a Messerschmitt Bf 110 over Berlin. The machine was lost after being hit by flak on 15 March 1944, crashing at Neu-Moresnet. The pilot Flt Lt Foster survived to become a POW, the observer Fg Off. Grantham was killed.
HJ711 has been owned for the past 40 years by Tony Agar and has been restored to a live condition at LAHC, where it carries out regular taxy runs.
The centre's collection of aircraft expanded in the latter part of 2022 with the arrival of a pair of Bristol Bolingbroke light bombers. Information relating to the aircraft can be found here: Lincolnshire Aviation Heritage Centre (lincsaviation.co.uk)
In November 2022, the centre received North American TB-25N-20-NC Mitchell 44-29366 from the RAF Museum. A full history for the aircraft can be found on the LAHC's website: Lincolnshire Aviation Heritage Centre (lincsaviation.co.uk)
Handley Page HP.52 Hampden I AE436 is under long term restoration at the centre. Further details can be found here: Handley Page HP.52 Hampden I AE436
During Day, Night and Through the Year at East Kirkby
The memorial to 57 and 630 Squadron located on the site of the former guard house.
Page Index - Aircraft & Vehicles Within This Gallery - Avro Lancaster VII NX611 'Just Jane' - Douglas C-47A Skytrain 2100882 Drag 'Em OOT - Bedford OX Tractor Unit and Queen Mary Trailer - Ford WOT1 Crew Bus - East Kirkby Windmill - The Watch Tower East Kirkby - Jack Currie