Lancaster Bomber

The “Royal Air Force Conigsby” fb page has in-plane footage from the fly over.

 

Well, I'm 71 so it was probably bi-planes, oo matron. In those days Langtoft was a very small village, probably less than 1500 residents but it had an raf base, no runway just housing, the kids went to the local school so we got to know 1 or 2. There was also a village just called Toft nearby, I don't know what the significance of the name Toft is.

 

I saw it, it come over Hemingfield, over the old Elsecar colliery tip then over Elsecar. I wondered what it was with it being very low and the engine drone. Then I saw the rear gun cockpit . Lovely sight to see

 

I used to fish regular on the River Witham at Coningsby . The Americans used it . They practised regularly coming in to land then they would pull back up and come in again. Think they practised bombing raids on the Linolnshire Coast.
One day one of them come and sat next to me watching me fish. He was American fighter pilot and was curious as to what we caught. He loved fishing when at home.
When the jets came to land they came over us onto runway and the backdraft from the engines ruffled your hair

 

Love the sound of those engines too, Rolls Royce Merlins, also those engines powered the Hurricane, Halifax, Mosquito and Spitfire, as well as the Cromwell tank believe it or not.
Probably the most successful and versatile engine ever manufactured with over 160,000 made
Production ceased in 1956

 

Another family legend is that during a particularly bad raid over Germany one of my granddads relatives had a very realistic nightmare about being in the plane with him and next time they spoke she told him details that she couldn't have possibly known about that trip.

 

There’s a pub there with a museum to the dam busters. Red arrows also stationed there.

 

Been on that I’m the BBMF hanger, lovely old frame but very cramped and cosy inside, respect to all former bomber crews indeed!

 

No they aren't the red arrows are based at Scampton