Skirmish over Skegness

Mention the Battle of Britain and most people think of the South East of England, but here in Lincolnshire our bombers played a vital role.

Tom Allett gives his report on an eventful day over the East Coast of Lincolnshire in August 1940.

Skirmish over Skegness was first published in the RAF Waddington International Airshow 2010 programme.

Bomber Command Wristbands - Now available!

It’s time to give for those who gave everything…

The 125,000 volunteers of RAF Bomber Command came from all corners of the Commonwealth to serve against oppression. Men and women from America, Canada, New Zealand, Australia, South Africa and Zimbabwe fought and died together to defend the free world. In doing so doing they were crucial in turning the tide and winning World War II.

RAF Bomber Command’s role was to attack the enemy’s own military strength – by bombing their airbases, ships, troops and communications. A strategy which was pivotal in victory.

Today we can celebrate these fearless heroes by raising money for a Memorial at Hide Park Corner in London. The Memorial will be a permanent recognition to those who gave everything so we could be free.

 

You can help by making a donation of £2 for a Bomber Command Wristband.

Make a donation at…

·         The Battle of Britain Memorial Flight Visitor Center, Conningsby - www.raf.mod.uk/bbmf/visitorscentre

·         The Lincolnshire Aviation Heritage Centre at East Kirkby - www.lincsaviation.co.uk

·         Petwood Hotel, Woodhall Spa -www.petwood.co.uk

·         RAF Scampton Museum - www.raf.mod.uk/rafscampton/aboutus

·         The Red Lion Inn, Nr Partney - www.redlioninnpartney.co.uk

Or the ‘They Gave Everything’ website www.theygaveeverything.com

Look into the Lincolnshire Skies - for a Harrier flyby!

News Updates - We've been told they are still on the runway at Cottesmore due to low cloud.... fly-past times TBC… (updated 2.30pm)

The Harrier Force is being disbanded today after 41 years of service in the Royal Air Force.


To mark the event a formation of 16 Harriers will depart RAF Cottesmore in Leicestershire and fly around Lincolnshire; over the RAF bases listed below in the county, and finish over Lincoln Cathedral .

Look into the Lincolnshire skies between 1.20pm and 2.15pm this afternoon (Wednesday 15th December).

If you want to know more about Lincolnshire Aviation Story you can visit the Lincolnshire Aviation Heritage website – its full of brilliant information!

Fly over time

• Stamford – 1.27pm


• Cranwell – 2.01pm


• Waddington – 2.02pm


• Scampton – 2.04pm


• Lincoln - 2.06pm


• Coningsby – 2.11pm

Nose Art Competition – did you see the Lincolnshire Echo?

We’ve been working with Visit Lincolnshire to help spread the word about our latest competition for young people to design their own aircraft Nose Art.

Last week, with a little help from the VL Press Office we sent out a press release launching the competition.

The Lincolnshire Echo ran a story about it, which you can read here, and BBC Radio Lincolnshire invited us into the studio to talk around the competition and the work we are doing as part of Aviation Heritage Lincolnshire.

This is an excellent start and we hope to spread the competition further in the coming weeks.

If you would like to receive more information about the competition, or information about how to get youngsters involved, please email david@visitlincolnshire.com

Thorpe Camp

Congratulations to Thorpe Camp Visitor Centre on achieving the accrediation under the Visitor Attraction Quality Assurance Scheme (VAQAS). Well done on reaching the standard!

Press Updates in May

Just to keep you informed,
AHL has had a very successful month with regards to national press coverge. At the start of May, the Travel section of the Sunday Express wrote a wonderful piece on some of the aviaiton sites in the county. It was not only informative but also an emotional account by a young reporter on what he saw and felt.
On 15th May another two-page article appeared in the Saturday travel section of the Daily Telegraph. Written by its top reporter Steve MacClarence, again it was a very detailed and accurate summary of our sites and what we are, as a Partnership, trying to project and inform.
Another article on the same theme in the Yorkshire Post is due sometime in the near future.

I would like to thank everybody who helped in the two-day visit of the group of journalists. The enthusiasm shown was clearly visible and I know from talking to them that the journalists themslves said they were humbled by some of the stories told to them.

Its now the start of our busy summer season and Phil and I wish you all the success you deserve in the coming months.

RAF Ingham Exhibition - 1st May 2010

Today, if you drive past the former site of RAF Ingham you would have no idea that this all grass aerodrome was home to the Poles, as well as being a food collection centre for Operation MANNA.

An exhibition on this wartime aerodrome is being held at Fillingham Village Hall on Saturday 1st May between 10 am and 4 pm.

This will give you an interesting insight to the airfield. Hopefully this could lead to a permanent heritage centre for the airfield.