Avro Lancaster PA474, Gaydon Air Display 1975

[Gary_Lewis]

 

Thank you for accepting me into this great forum.

 

As a keen aviation photographer and model builder for over 45 years starting in the 1970's I mainly used either Kodak or Agfa 35 mm colour slide film. A recent decision to digitally convert/transfer the best of many thousands taken has meant going through box after box of slides and its proved to be a real trip down memory lane. 

 

The very first photos taken were of Lancaster PA474 , an aircraft I have never got tired of seeing / hearing and photographing.

These pictures were taken at the RAF Gaydon Air Display on the 17th August 1975 and as you can see my early photographic efforts weren't particularly anything to write home about, as at 16 years of age l still had a bit of height to gain, but they were the 'First of Many" so are rather special to me and they do flag up a number of interesting points including the lack of the mid upper turret. The pilot on the day I think was Ken Sneller with "Jacko" Jackson as Co-pilot... what a sight and sound it was being that close... I have been hooked ever since". 

Also from the 1970s is a First Day Cover signed by Ken Sneller which was flown in PA from the Stafford Open Day later the same year.

 

Shown too is a photo of the front cover for the book 'Veteran and Vintage Aircraft' by Leslie Hunt published in 1974. It shows PA over-flying a Shuttleworth display at Old Warden around 1973, any ideas at what height we are looking at there? Barnes Wallis' bouncing bomb was dropped at 60ft I believe. Has PA ever been photographed lower?

 

I hope to upload more from my archives as the digitalisation progresses during the next few months.

 

RAF Gaydon slides, 1975 by Gary Lewis, on Flickr

 

PA474 RAF Gaydon, 1975 by Gary Lewis, on Flickr

 

PA474 RAF Gaydon, 1975 by Gary Lewis, on Flickr

 

PA474 RAF Gaydon, 1975 by Gary Lewis, on Flickr

 

PA474 RAF Gaydon, 1975 by Gary Lewis, on Flickr

 

PA474 RAF Gaydon, 1975 by Gary Lewis, on Flickr

 

PA474 RAF Gaydon, 1975 by Gary Lewis, on Flickr

 

PA474 RAF Gaydon, 1975 by Gary Lewis, on Flickr

 

PA474 RAF Gaydon, 1975 by Gary Lewis, on Flickr

 

FDC, signed Ken Sneller by Gary Lewis, on Flickr

 

Veteran & Vintage cover by Gary Lewis, on Flickr

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Edited May 17, 2022 by Gary_Lewis

[Pete in Lincs]

Welcome to the forum, Gary. Thanks for posting those great pictures. Looking forward to more.

Lancaster wingspan is 101 feet, so in the picture, it looks like the height is probably around 60 feet.

[Gary_Lewis]

On 17/05/2022 at 19:24, Pete in Lincs said:

Welcome to the forum, Gary. Thanks for posting those great pictures. Looking forward to more.

Lancaster wingspan is 101 feet, so in the picture, it looks like the height is probably around 60 feet.

 

Thanks Pete, appreciate the reply and the welcome.

Do you have a particular favourite aircraft type? Or I could just share a few random shots with you for now... like this RAF F4 Phantom that also attended the 1975 Gaydon Air Display -

 

RAF F4 Phantom by Gary Lewis, on Flickr

[Pete in Lincs]

Gary, I have a few favourites, having spent forty years working on military Aircraft. However, I find I do still prefer WW2 types.

Unless you have maybe a few vintage Wessex shots? That was my first posting.

[Gary_Lewis]

2 hours ago, Pete in Lincs said:

Gary, I have a few favourites, having spent forty years working on military Aircraft. However, I find I do still prefer WW2 types.

Unless you have maybe a few vintage Wessex shots? That was my first posting.

 

Hi Pete, sorted a couple of Wessex photos out for you, although a few other types are shown too, Puma for one.

I do have a number of old vintage black and white photographs, attached below - maybe you can identify some of them? 

In the 70s/80s I worked for a company called Serck Heat Transfer who manufactured oil coolers and radiators for some of the most iconic aircraft in British History - Spitfire, Hurricane, Lancaster, Mosquito, Harrier, Concorde to name but a few.... helicopters too including the Wessex. 

Hope you enjoy looking at them  

 

RAF Westland Wessex by Gary Lewis, on Flickr

 

RAF Westland Wessex. by Gary Lewis, on Flickr

 

RAF Puma by Gary Lewis, on Flickr

 

Serck Helicopter Pictures by Gary Lewis, on Flickr

[Pete in Lincs]

Thanks for those, I worked on Puma's as well! The one above is a 230 Sqn Aircraft.

Of the black and white pictures, you have a very early Wessex, Royal Navy I think.

The tadpole is a Bristol Sycamore. And the twin rotor is a Bristol Belvedere.

Thanks again and I hope this helps you. Regards, Pete

[Head in the clouds.]

That 3rd to last picture is interesting Gary as it shows PA474 without her Mid Upper turret suggesting that she may yet not fully converted back to her previous bomber role. She left the Royal Collage of Aeronautics at Cranfield around 1965/66 and was transferred to storage but she was very heavily modified by men in white smocks so would need much time and effort to get her back to original condition as we enjoy her today.

Unable to find copyright holder, please contact if removal required.

 

Welcome to the fold and enjoy the forum.

[Bertie McBoatface]

On 5/18/2022 at 10:09 PM, Gary_Lewis said:

1975 Gaydon Air Display -

 

 

Ohh there's a memory! I was attached to 43 Squadron during that summer and watched the display pilot working up his routine. It was exciting and more than a little scary when he beat up the dispersal at 'nought feet'.