Our story....Avro Lancaster NX611, Lincolnshire Aviation Heritage Centre and the Panton family

[@larry4789]

My sister took my mum and dad to East Kirkby in 1989. My dad signed the visitors book with his Squadron No. too. As he was walking away the man on the desk came after him saying there had been other former 61 Squadron personnel and showed him the book. One of the names was his mate Les Loosemore, the mid upper gunner. Les wrote to my dad and through him my dad got crew photos and details of where to get his medals and King's warrant from. In 1990 I took my mum and dad back again and we also went to RAF Coningsby where they'd met. I watched my dad looking at both Lancs with a look of love, something I'll never forget.

[@GJBraithwaite]

I've always had a special connection to the Lancaster and AVRO. I was brought up living right next door to Woodford. I now live minutes away from the site of the AVRO Factory in Manchester. As I did with XH558, I will be happy to donate funds to this worthy cause. I look forward to the day we can say THREE Lancasters are in flying condition

[@ashgeorge6104]

My dad took me to see nx611 while he was alive. I was just a young boy but I was privileged to sit in the cockpit of this fine piece of history.

[@johnstainthorpe3427]

All the men and women who served their country and fought for freedom deserve to be remembered - whatever you can afford to donate to this project to get "Just Jayne" back in the sky will ensure their memories are not forgotten.

[@andrewdrabble8939]

Go to see JJ every time I go on my holidays in Skegness. Saw her twice this year and it never gets old. I tear up every time the pilot opens the taps and runs up her engines. No matter how many times I have been to East Kirkby, I always find something else to look at. You can see her champing at the very bit to be let off the leash every time she taxys so I firmly believe that 'Jane' will one day be back in the air where she belongs

[@WMW-82]

It's always a lump in the throat moment when you see and hear the Lancaster. It's an image that always reminds me of all our brave lion hearted lads who didn't make it home. Thank you for sharing your story with us, from Lancaster lancs Never in the field of human conflict has so much been owed by so many to so few. 🕊

[@patriciaspafford1648]

Goosebumps everything time,plus the odd tears.too.

[@charlescoulson]

What a great project. Living up in Aberdeenshire and ageing disgracefully a physical visit has not yet been possible( especially in these sorry times). I am happy to donate what little I can afford and I hope anyone reading this will do like wise. The engineering involved is extraordinary, the enthusiasm is undimmed and the passion is palpable. Nevs film updates are wonderful, so whats not to like. Go on folks, life is difficult in these sad Covid days, feel good and send them some money.

[@kirstymcadam6428]

Mr Coulson, as someone who has visited East Kirkby twice, I can't describe how much I would encourage anyone to go visit "Just Jane". From Blairgowrie it took us a little over 7hrs to travel down with two half hour stops. First visit was to donate my Great Uncles pencil case that flew with him on his 48sorties & plotted the maps. On that visit, I learned of the taxi runs they do which is the closest thing you can do to experience what those lads felt everytime they flew off to do their jobs. Last year, my hubby bought me one of those taxi runs for my 40th & in August this year, we travelled back down for my taxi run. I can not describe how emotional it was but from hearing her engines burst into life to when I left the museum that day, there was tears & I wasn't the only one. Money well spent in the hope one day, she will fly again.

[@gary416]

Phew, always been a little bit embarrassed that I get a lump in my throat at the sight and sound of Just Jane, I'm pleased that I'm not alone. Like to visit a couple of times a year and always make a purchase from the gift shop and have a bite to eat in the NAAFI ,hope this helps with the restoration

[@markbooth6745]

You must visit it, been there its beautiful plane. And much more to see.😃👍

[@Gryphon861]

I’ll keep telling more and more people to support this passion for the Lancaster

[@manqustitch]

ive sat on NX611 and when the engines started.i could smell those engines,i was sat in the door way as it traffic around the field, it was the best feeling ever. a very emotional day for me. I will never forget and feel privileged to have experienced it...thank you for everything you do as big or little your job may have been to make it possible xx

[@hoacha1]

Watching our Lanc fly over the house every summer is an amazing site

[@philip167]

you cannot beat the wonderful sound of them 4 Merlin engines starting up and running. just think of the young brave men that gave there live so we can live on. R.I. P to them all we will remember them

[@markholroyde9412]

I've been in tears since the first bit of poetry, Dad was a mechanic on OBAN on flying boats and I still have his model planes hanging from the garage roof he built way back...its the bit when they are taking off on the runway that hurts the most even though I was born in '61 I know that way back folk watched them take off....and they never came back, THATS the bit that gets me, what a wonderful job they are doing, this plane came from the next farm over from my friends IIRC.

[@paulroberts194]

What a wonderful sight to behold to see the three Lancaster's flying. It's got to happen.

[@gearsau]

Really nice story. My favorite bomber. I have recently purchased a 1/32 scale model of the Dambuster Lancaster. My project for 2021 is to build it. All the best from Australia.

[@chrisbailey4254]

You beauties thankyou for this.

[@davidstorm8879]

iv have been to see her, j,j. many times over the years, just hoped, just jane would take to the skies once more, just hoping just jane fly's once again before my time is up, on this earth, as I am 70 in a few months and not many years left I'm hoping that I will be here to see that day, just hoping. D,W of Grimsby NE Lincs

[@garrywhiting481]

I am now very lonely person who feels lost

[@WatfuernLoco]

Very nice work with this beautiful bomber. Just a question: Why the NX611 in the rear turret just with 2 0.5 cal??

[@genreynolds6685]

Canadian squadrons installed the twin .50s in the tail to give better protection against fighters when we took up daylight bombing late in the war. Elsewhere in the video series a narrator says this is a Canadian-built fuselage fwiw. The Mynarski Lanc in Hamilton is restored with the more common quad .30 turret used at the time of Mynarski’s death and posthumous VC.

[@patkins8319]

Sept 83, well I was born. Love me a Lancaster and guess my birth place... Lancaster

[@rc166honda]

Very moved

[@DaiElsan]

How long before the Great Day arrives?

[@johnacton5417]

The restoration is a 10 year programme. The centre is commencing Year 4.

[@johncavill1139]

why is it lettered different on each side

[@brandonseto4524]

Hopefully the day comes when there will be 3 Lancasters flying in formation

[@ColinH1973]

Amen to that.

[@samrodian919]

Having visited the Canadian warplane heritage web site I think they said it was unlikely that their Lancaster "Vera" would make the trip across the Atlantic again, as they did a few years ago.

[@craigpennington1251]

Female narration low & muffled but an outstanding video.

[@johnacton5417]

Those who can go should do - atmospheric. Andrew Drabble captures it his post.

[@rctaylor5689]

Maybe this has been asked previously… why does this ‘plane have different i.d. Letters on opposite sides of the fuselage?

[@andrewdrabble8939]

It's to signify the two squadrons (57 and 630 Squadrons) that flew from East Kirkby during the war. The letter F on her starboard side is for the late Fred Panton (it used to be a letter C). One of the two brothers (Fred and Harold) who brought the Lanc to East Kirkby