Dawlish News

Two Second World War Lancaster bombers have flown together in the skies over Britain for the first time in 50 years - and are on their way to Devon.

Canadian Lancaster Vera flew into RAF Coningsby ahead of appearing at the Dawlish Air Show on August 23 with Thumper, the aircraft owned by the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight.

The pair are the only two Lancaster Bombers that are still airworthy.

It is extremely unlikely that such a visit will ever take place again, and the sight of two Lancaster bombers flying together is sure to be thrilling, memorable and emotional, evoking memories of the 55,000 members of Bomber Command who were lost during the Second World War; a figure that includes more than 10,000 Canadians.

Vera, C-GVRA, a Lancaster B.X, is being flown by the Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum as a memorial to Andrew Mynarski, a Canadian recipient of the Victoria Cross who was lost flying in VR-A (thus the nickname) KB726 on June 13, 1944.

The BBMF’s Lancaster, B.1 PA474, currently wears the markings of Woodhall Spa based DV385/KC-A of 617 Sqn, the famous Dambusters, and the nose-art Thumper Mk III.

Kevin Wills, flying display director for Dawlish Air Show, said: “As soon as the committee learned that the Canadian Lancaster would be here in the UK at the time of our event, we knew that we had to try to get her flying over Dawlish with the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight.

Read more at http://www.exeterexpressandecho.co.uk/Dawlish-delight-Lancaster-bombersarrive-air/story-22731597-detail/story.html#tCs6YWPDBZyhvi7Y.99