| lxbfYeaa, e-mail, 14.03.2024 06:36 20
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| John Magee, e-mail, 18.05.2021 09:20 I served on the Lincolns at Manby as an engine mechanic in 1957-5, before being posted to Gibralter.
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| Roger Matthews, e-mail, 20.03.2021 11:04 Hello Ann have you seen the book Slightly Below The Glide Path RAF Scampton by Brian and Gary Mennell it gives a very good account of the accident. I actually work at Grange Farm the site of the accident,I would be interested in any information you have about the crash.
Regards Roger
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| Ann Fitzgerald, e-mail, 21.09.2020 02:48 Hello. Long time since you posted about visiting the Scampton graves. My husbands father, Arthur Fitzgerald, is one of the graves you visit.
Any info you may have we would appreciate.
We do have an official explanation as to crash but its very vague.
I do hope you are well and this finds you.
Best wishes
Ann and Rod fitzgerald
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| Ken Munday, e-mail, 12.06.2020 12:19 Hi, Terry,
My National service career seems to have been similar to yours. I jotted down some memories of service at Scampton and Lindholme. f you would like me to send you a copy, drop me an email.
Ken
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| Bert, 26.05.2020 19:35 There's one on display at the RAF Museum Cosford
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| Peter Buchan, e-mail, 05.11.2016 19:51 Simon & Judith hi, my uncle was on Lincoln RF569 when it crashed on 2/7/1948 at Boscombe Down. Would've interested to ompare notes
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| John West, e-mail, 13.05.2015 12:46 Re. my comment on5rth May 2015,are there any air gunners out there from83 Sqdn. in the 1950s?
Notice my name correction-West
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| John Westin, e-mail, 10.05.2015 01:47 During National Service as an Air Gunner I flew 600+ hours in Lincolns.I have my logbook recording the flight purposes
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| Frank Hodges, e-mail, 06.05.2015 17:37 I was in signals RAF Upwood 1952/54 - a National Service SAC. I asked for a flight having never been off the ground before and did a night flight in a Lincoln - most of it in the bomb aimer's seat. Highlight was a dummy bomb run over the White City stadium. I'm 81 now and still remember clearly going up the ladder and into the "front" seat for take off. Cold and noisy but SO exciting!!
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| Martyn Markland, e-mail, 26.04.2015 22:54 My late father Keith Markland was a flight engineer on Lancasters who was transferred to Boscombe Down in 1943/1944 to help in the early development of the new Lincoln bomber. He told me that when he arrived at Boscombe Down they had two prototypes to work on namely, the "P1" and "P2". The two flight crews were tasked with 150 hours of non-destructive testing of the aircraft under the supervision of Rolls Royce engineers. Apparently they flew the aircraft around the British Isles replacing and repairing parts as and when they failed. They changed propellers and were sometimes grounded due to cracks appearing in engine mountings etc. My father said that when news came in that the A-bombs had been dropped in Japan, the crews celebrated in grand style. Their greatest fear was having to be deployed to the Far East, being shot down and captured by the Japanese. If anyone has any further information about those early prototyping days it would be good hear from you.
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| Tom Ainsby, e-mail, 25.04.2015 01:13 The Southend Lincoln was last seen in very large pieces at RAF Biggin Hill
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| Simon Bacon, e-mail, 11.11.2014 22:03 Hi Judith, My grandfather was also killed in Lincoln RF560 on 2nd July 1948 at Boscombe Down A&AEE. My mother was only 7 at the time and knows very little about it and my grandmother passed away before it occurred to me to find out what she knew. Like you I am now trying to find out what I can, perhaps we can compare notes sometime?
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| Judith Day, e-mail, 20.10.2014 22:35 My father was killed in R.F.Lincoln 560 on 2nd July 1948 at Boscombe Down A&AEE. He always told his family that they were actually testing jet engines. The accident record from the time states that the engines were Merlin 86. I can find no record of this type of Merlin engine. Can anybody shed any light on this? Many thanks from our family.
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| Barry flewitt, e-mail, 08.08.2014 23:42 I seem to remember one of these being at a Museum at Southend Essex Airfield. There was also a Blackburn Beverly.
I wonder what became of them?
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| RickyCooper, e-mail, 22.11.2013 03:32 Reference Johnashmr [22.08.2011]
I also remembered the Lincoln shot down by the Russians for flying into their "Air Space" during a Training Flight.
I thought at the time that no "Civvy" would believe me - so I kept the Report of the incident [which I still have].
The next attack took place at RAF Shawbury - where the "enemy" destroyed an H2S Radar Dome. The only clue to the identity of the perpetrators was a bunch of black feathers.
!
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| Sam Colley, e-mail, 17.05.2013 11:51 I served my national service from 1951 to 1953 at Martlesham Heath as a Junior Technician (Navigation). The station included a Bomb Ballistics Experimental Unit and, among the aircraft used for bombing trials was a Lincoln. This had been modified with two Rolls Royce Avon jets replacing the inboard Merlins. I guess this was useful to give the Lincoln a higher altitude capability for bombing trials. The bomb bay had also been modified, the doors being cut away to allow it to carry an enormous bomb which protruded well outside the bottom of the aircraft. I had nothing to do with the bombing trials, but was responsible for checking and maintaining the navigation instruments on the aircraft (including the bomb sight and autopilot.)I did get a flight in the Lincoln, which I remember as being very noisy, but gave me great pleasure.
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| Roland L. Jillings, e-mail, 09.05.2013 23:34 I was one of a small group sent to Yeovilton Nave Air station in 1955 to repair a Lincoln. It was run into a hanger wall when a Navy pilot moved it. It had been used as a pretend target for the Navy to find during night flights. We maesured the wing distortion and found one wing was 9 inches pushed back It still flew however.
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| Norrie Rafferty (Jock), e-mail, 17.04.2013 00:34 I was an Engine Fitter on Lincolns at RAF Watton DEV "B" 1960/1961. Keith Rielly and Patrick o Sullivan were the two guys I remember.The Lincolns were engaged in dropping "Window" around the Norfolk area.
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| Terry Busby, e-mail, 20.03.2013 12:21 OH! There are so many times when one misses one's
memory. my name is Terry Busby and I served Mational
Service at Scampton as Inst.Tech.1952. I do wish that
I could remember the names of the lads in the Section.
We worked on ' North Flight for a long time . Three of
the names that come to mind are - Harry Potter(a textile
engraver by trade from Salford ) (Gordon Fuller ,worked
at AP.Frods. (Appleby Froddingham Steel Works ) and
( Mollineaux from Wolverhampton - as well as Sgt. Cooksey
in charge a lovely fellow in fact they all were . We
transferred with our Lincolns to RAF " Lindholme about
the end of 1952 . Does anyone come from that era and place ?
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| David Boothby, e-mail, 08.02.2013 19:34 A comment for Ken Clark really. My Father, George Boothby served at Scampton 1950-52 during his National Service. I remember every time we drove past Scampton Church, he would stop and go visit the 4 graves from RA692. From what he told me, he knew the crew of that Aircraft, having been a rigger on the Groundcrew for that Sqn (230OCU?). Unfortunately, he passed away in 2005 and a lot of knowledge of that era went with him. Like father like son, I followed him into the RAF, serving 22years. I was at Scampton Churchyard only yesterday and can confirm that everything is still kept in beautiful condition, with the first snowdrops starting to show.
Regards David.
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| John Norman, e-mail, 12.12.2012 21:30 I was stationed at RAF Wyton from late 1947 to early 1949 as an Air Radar Mechanic when a few of us were sent as observers on practise bombing runs to Heligoland. There had been reports by aircrew of radar failures which could never be confirmed on the ground later, & we were supposed to keep an eye on how the various radar systems were operated. Any who has been near the cockpit of a bomber in flight should have known how impractical it was to wander around looking over the shoulders of crews, in fact none of us had anything to report. The attempt was repeated after our presence was properly explained to the aircrew & we were belatedly shown where the escape hatch was. I did not take part because I grabbed my 'chute by the wrong handle while climbing in & opened it on the ground.
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| John Beavin, e-mail, 25.10.2012 04:28 I was a member of the ATC, and on September the 8th 1946 I had an hours flight in OL E of 83 sqdn at Coningsby, a big change from the Lancasters we were used to flying in from East Kirkby.
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| Terry Busby, e-mail, 11.09.2012 22:09 I have just submitted a comment, and it has now
started me thinking hard of any names I may be
able to remember - it will probably now be on
my mind for ever more ! I remember the Station
commander being called Johnson and our NCO in charge
of section being Sgt. Cooksey , that is all but I
hope someone is still on this earth who was also
there at that time .
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| Terry Busby, e-mail, 11.09.2012 21:33 I was National Service posted to RAF Scampton in 1951
and served on the Lincolns as an Instrument Tech. until
they left as a squadron in 1952 to go to RAF Lindholme.
I was part of the skeleton ground crew that went ahead
of our main squadron To help set up the cange over .They
were happy days and days I never forget .
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| john blackmore, e-mail, 03.04.2012 14:06 At age 14 I was a member of the Woodford Essex ATC and our 1950 Summer Camp was held at RAF Wyton, Huntingdon. We joined a Lincoln a/c for a night flight on a bomb exercise to Germany and back. I was seated in the front turret,very cold . . . will never forget returning to RAF Wyton guided by flares on the runway. Later I joined the RAF and spent some time at Martlesham Heath, Suffolk where they were experimenting with jet/piston engined Lincolns.
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| Eddie Frost, e-mail, 28.09.2011 11:49 I was stationed at R.A.F.Deden in 1951/2 national service , we had 2 Lincolns and i think 3 Ansons 3 Oxgords 2 tiger moths , i used fly on training flights as many times as i could in the lincolns in the main, but also many flights in Ansons and Oxfords, happy days,
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| john asmore, e-mail, 22.08.2011 17:44 I was a junior tech electrical fitter at RAF Leconfield in the early 1950s. We had a squadron of Lincoln bombers that were used to train air gunners. I remember an incident during the Berlin airlift when one of our aircraft was shot down by the Russians for supposedly straying outside the air corridor.
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| Laurie 'Irish' Shaw, e-mail, 14.06.2011 12:32 My late brother, Jim Shaw work on Lincolns as an Airframe Fitter when he was a National Service stationed at Amberley Queensland in 1954. I was in the RAN from 1954 until 1960 and served on the aircraft carrier Sydney during the Malayan Emergency Onboard the Australian sloop Warrego in 1960 while searching for a downed Fokker Friendship off Mackay Queensland I recall an RAAF Lincoln, flying at zero feet, her navigator flashing us with his Aldis drawing our attention to an oil slick from the stricken aircraft. I am the Secretary of the NSW/ACT Division of the Far East Strategic Reserve [NAVY] Association and have been lobbying all and sundry trying to get the Australian Government to recognise our war service by awarding us veterans a Malaya Campaign Medal, as was the case with veterans of the Korean and Vietnam wars. So fsr without success. Great website. Regards. Irish Shaw, ex-RAN.
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| Colin H Morgan, e-mail, 05.05.2011 12:53 I was posted to RAF Manby in 1951 as a LAC from Yatesbury Boys training.We had Lincolns and a modified Lincoln called a Lincolnian.All the gun turrets had been removed and the airframe covered.Manby was a Navigation School then Headquarters in Tedder Block. I only remember the Lincolnian flying once and then it was transfered to the far side of the airfield and parked there. I heard that later it was inspected and found to have rat and mouse damage to cables and fittings. Being an Ex-Boy Entrant I was at first given the new boy job of painting all the Lincoln aerials. While still at Manby I went on a detachment to Norway and flew in the Lincoln aircraft over the North Pole. The exercise was to Map the icecap using H2S radar.Very exiting for a lad of seventeen but I remember how very cold it was at the tail end.I had the job of heating tins of soup in a small white Box at the rear but it was so cold that it took ages to heat just one tin that the crew didn't think much of the cook. Wonderful memories of a good old kite.
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| colin billingham, e-mail, 11.02.2011 18:57 I was a jnr nco at wickenby and flew in one lincoln on a practice bombing run over the sea and over the cathedral on the way back. It was called the air patronisation scheme. other aircraft included a valetta and anson.
I will never forget the 4 hour bomber flight
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| rusty, e-mail, 05.01.2011 08:36 There is a mistake in the text saying gaf fisherman's bend is in nsw. It is in melbourne vic.
rusty.
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| Bryen Abrahams, e-mail, 30.11.2010 04:08 I flew Lincolns..R A A F 1952/1958 in Malaya & then maritime long nose Mk.31 Ended rain making experiment...not successful.Every-one of my old crew who are still around now suffer varying degrees of deafness!
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| Peter Watson, e-mail, 03.10.2010 13:40 I was posted to RAF Shawbury in1951 and worked on Lincoln`s as an engine mechanic in the maintenance hanger.Have since lost touch with all my mates after moving to Australia.
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| fede, e-mail, 01.09.2009 01:31 It's on the Fuerza Aérea Argentina's museum.
Very nice!
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| Ken Clark, e-mail, 01.08.2009 08:37 My connection is with Lincoln Bomber RA 692. It crashed at Grangefarm, Welton just North East of RAF Scampton on 14 July 1951. My Dad was a gunner onboard. There was a crew of seven comprising five NCOs and two Officers, the pilots. All seven were killed, presumably instantly, according to the Coronner's Report. I was born five months after the crash in November 1951 so never knew dad but feel as though I do from what Mum has told me over the years. The crew members were;
Sgt P E Clark of Motherwell Scotland (my dad)
Flt Lt C W Peters of Edgeware Middlesex
F O F Cousins of Wakefield Yorks
Sgt K Ireson of Swansea
Sgt E Newman of Middlesborough
Sgt A J Fitzgerald of Ontario Canada
Cadet Engineer N Moss of Ealing London
Dad is buried in the Scampton Church Cemetery just south west of RAF Scampton.
I would love to touch base with any relatives of the other crew members. Any ideas?
Regards,
Ken Clark (Perth Western Australia)
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| Norman Lyons, e-mail, 09.09.2008 19:44 I was a National Service Sergeant Flight Engineer based at Scampton and Hemswell in 1952/3. On Sept 15th 1952 I flew with Sgt Kmiecik on The Battle of Britain Flypast over London. On July 1953 we flew in formation for The Queens review of the RAF at Odiham, both sortees was during my stay with 83 squadron.
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| Pete Richmond, e-mail, 18.02.2008 15:47 I was nearly hit by one of these aircraft in 1951 at Scampton. I was playing in our MQ's garden when the aircraft crashed on the green behind the house. I've since learned that the aircraft was RF567 'SN-L' and was on a circuits and bumps training flight when the port outer engine failed. The pilot touched down with the engine feathered, bounced and attempted an overshoot but with insufficient airspeed it swung off runway 23, the port wing hit a hangar and the aircraft crashed onto the green. It demolished the rifle range and bounced over two roads before bursting into flames. The two Gunners were killed in the crash, the Pilot, Signaller and Engineer were injured. The aircraft Captains name was Sgt. G B Watson, this is the only name I know, so if anyone reading this can update me with any further information I'd be grateful.
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| ken rimell, e-mail, 20.07.2007 22:14 I flew in several Lincolns while based at RAF Upwood in 1960? WD128 hit a lorry on take off and did a belly flop after flying for several hours to burn off fuel.It landed on the grass alongside 06.About a year later the remaining aircraft, then used for a four engine conversion and OTU flew off in formation leaving one behind that had a twisted u/c due to a heavy landing.
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| michael sumpter, e-mail, 31.12.2006 22:25 My father Frank Sumpter was inthe RAF...Serving i think 1944 to 1952.I have a photography of a Lincoln Bomber flying over the Lincoln Catheral and my dad is on board...mid upper gunner.Iam afraid iam not sure of the year.The number of the Lincoln is....VN--C....What a sight!!!!!
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