Tue Aug 11, 2009 7:36 pm
So just how many of the surviving Lancs in Canada are actually combat vets?
SN
SN
Tue Aug 11, 2009 7:52 pm
gary1954 wrote:What happened to the Lanc that was pulled out of a lake somewhere in Europe, I believe it was back in the late 70s early 80s
One was raised from Lake Constance, Switzerland in remarkable condition in the 1960's, only to be scrapped a few years later, along with a similarly remarkable B-17 "Lonesome Polecat". Unbelieveable, I know...
Richard
Tue Aug 11, 2009 9:56 pm
Are you serious, the airframe was virtually complete. Hard to imagine after all that expense in recovery she was scrapped.
Tue Aug 11, 2009 11:15 pm
Steve Nelson wrote:So just how many of the surviving Lancs in Canada are actually combat vets?
SN
I had posted this earlier in another thread, but I'll post it again:
KB839 - Greenwood, Nova Scotia - Joined 419 Squadron in January 1945 as VR-D.
KB882 - Edmundston, New Brunswick - Joined 428 Squadron in March 1945 as NA-R.
KB889 - Duxford, UK - Joined 419 Squadron in April 1945 as VR-M.
KB944 - Ottawa, Ontario - Joined 425 Squadron in March 1945 as KW-K.
KB976 - Polk City, Florida - Joined 405 Squadron in May 1945, but I'm assuming it wasn't used on operations.
FM104 - Toronto, Ontario - Joined 428 Squardon in March 1945. Not sure if it was used on operations, though.
FM136 - Calgary, Alberta - Went to 32 MU, RAF in May 1945.
FM159 - Nanton, Alberta - Also to 32 MU, May 1945.
The other two, FM212 and FM213, never made it to England (in 1945 that is)
So I guess to answer your question, it would probably be the oldest four (KB839, 882, 889, & 944) but FM104 may have as well.
Glad to see KB882 will be kept in the postwar colours! Maybe we can talk those folks in Windsor into doing the same for FM212.
you know, being the prototype Mk 10P and all...
Wed Aug 12, 2009 7:22 am
Canada has only 2 combat veteran lancasters now. KB8982 in New brunswick and KB839 in Greenwood Nova Scotia...
Wed Aug 12, 2009 9:31 am
Maybe we can talk those folks in Windsor into doing the same for FM212.
you know, being the prototype Mk 10P and all...
That's not going to happen.
They've had it decided for years that it's going to be in wartime colours (in honor of the Bad Penny which was the first plane to drop food in Operation Manna).
Wed Aug 12, 2009 10:16 am
Sad but true Ryan...
Wed Aug 12, 2009 10:20 pm
Rhino-9-3 wrote:That's not going to happen.
I realize that. Maybe you could talk them into the BBMF approach. Leave it painted as 'Bad Penny' for 5-10 years, and then when it's time for a repaint/overhaul, paint it as another Lanc (perhaps KB772-VR*R 'Ropey' with the sharkmouth cowlings) or restore it back to postwar colours.
Just an idea anyway. Glad to see it getting the attention it deserves and that it may return to the skies.
