Did I see a Lancaster over Gosport?

Did I see a Lancaster over Gosport?

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Steve_D

Original Poster:

13,749 posts

259 months

Saturday 18th August 2012
quotequote all
About 12.30, made a couple of passes at least.
First was low but out of sight behind trees but got a fleeting glance on the second pass.

Steve

Huntsman

8,069 posts

251 months

Saturday 18th August 2012
quotequote all
Steve_D said:
About 12.30, made a couple of passes at least.
First was low but out of sight behind trees but got a fleeting glance on the second pass.

Steve
Yes, it was the Lancaster, flew along Southampton Water too.

South tdf

1,530 posts

196 months

Saturday 18th August 2012
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It took of from Southampton around lunch time today.

Steve_D

Original Poster:

13,749 posts

259 months

Saturday 18th August 2012
quotequote all
Thanks all for the confirmation.
It sounded fabulous but I got such a small glimps of it through the trees whilst driving I could not be sure.

Steve

Sway

26,325 posts

195 months

Sunday 19th August 2012
quotequote all
It was taxiing behind my flight when we landed at Southampton Friday evening.

Bloody gorgeous, but I couldn't get any pics as my tablet on airplane mode would have killed us all.

Seemed to be painted almost black - was this a 'normal' paintscheme?

Zaxxon

4,057 posts

161 months

Sunday 19th August 2012
quotequote all
Sway said:
It was taxiing behind my flight when we landed at Southampton Friday evening.

Bloody gorgeous, but I couldn't get any pics as my tablet on airplane mode would have killed us all.

Seemed to be painted almost black - was this a 'normal' paintscheme?
Black underneath and most of fuselage, camoflage top surfaces.




Eric Mc

122,055 posts

266 months

Sunday 19th August 2012
quotequote all
That was the standard Bomber Command colour scheme for the heavies from about mid 1940 onwards.

At the very beginning of the war the camouflage had continued down the sides of the fuselage but they decided to have a larger black area as night bombing became the preferred option.

This is a Wellington in the 1938/39 scheme.



Here is another Wellington a year or so later -


Simpo Two

85,545 posts

266 months

Sunday 19th August 2012
quotequote all
Nice spangly markings to defeat the black bit though!


'Gott in Himmel, vot is zis? Orange letters flying in formation?'

Eric Mc

122,055 posts

266 months

Sunday 19th August 2012
quotequote all
Simpo Two said:
Nice spangly markings to defeat the black bit though!


'Gott in Himmel, vot is zis? Orange letters flying in formation?'
In reality they weren't that bright. The colour in that opicture is a bit garish. In actual fact, they found that the red letters (the colour was referred to in RAF parlance as "Dull Ident Red") didn't stand out as boldly as the previous code letters, which had been in "Medium Grey".

Here's another variation, this time a Stirling with the grey lettering.




Zaxxon

4,057 posts

161 months

Sunday 19th August 2012
quotequote all
Yellow bombs?

Thats just stupid, the enemy could see them coming!

smile

Eric Mc

122,055 posts

266 months

Sunday 19th August 2012
quotequote all
Zaxxon said:
Yellow bombs?

Thats just stupid, the enemy could see them coming!

smile
Yep - a lot of the RAF's bombs were yellow. I don't suppose it mattered in the dark.

Hooli

32,278 posts

201 months

Sunday 19th August 2012
quotequote all
Zaxxon said:
Yellow bombs?

Thats just stupid, the enemy could see them coming!

smile
Early 'elf n safety? They are a trip hazard in that pic after all hehe

Eric Mc

122,055 posts

266 months

Sunday 19th August 2012
quotequote all
Health and safety isn't a completely modern invention. If you see colour pictures of RAF armourers or groundcrew during WW2, you will often see that they are wearing leather jackets with orange flourescent patches.


WhereamI

6,887 posts

218 months

Sunday 19th August 2012
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Some Lancaster pictures of a few weeks ago:




More here

Paul.B

3,937 posts

265 months

Sunday 19th August 2012
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Heard, but did not see the Lancaster. I did however see the Vulcan whilst up at Highclere Castle this afternoon. So! A good day.

Kitchski

6,516 posts

232 months

Sunday 19th August 2012
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Lanc flew over West End nr Southampton today, with either a Spitfire or Hurricane in tow (was driving at the same time so couldn't look long enough to see for sure)
Never saw it fly over Stubbington yesterday (which is where it was turning around on each loop of Cowes (I presume) but ironically saw it today away from where I live!

Had just taken off from Southampton Airport (which isn't in Southampton).

Thunderace

759 posts

246 months

Sunday 19th August 2012
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A Lancaster over Gosport? Shame it wasn't carrying bombs. A missed opportunity for some urban improvement biggrin

Oystercatcher

481 posts

203 months

Sunday 19th August 2012
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Was at Sywell today

BBMF Lancaster Sywell Airshow by Nevyn2009, on Flickr


BBMF Lancaster Sywell Airshow by Nevyn2009, on Flickr

Edited by Oystercatcher on Sunday 19th August 21:58

Simpo Two

85,545 posts

266 months

Sunday 19th August 2012
quotequote all
Eric Mc said:
Health and safety isn't a completely modern invention. If you see colour pictures of RAF armourers or groundcrew during WW2, you will often see that they are wearing leather jackets with orange flourescent patches.

RR Vulture I deduce - possibly the only engine RR made that wasn't very good?

(NB Fluorescent)

Zaxxon

4,057 posts

161 months

Sunday 19th August 2012
quotequote all
The Vulture was a bit of a failure but I think that is a Merlin in the Whitley

Vulture was a X configuration engine with two exhaust stacks on either side of the engine.

As used in this Hawker Tornado



It was also a key failing of the Avro Manchester....thank god.

Edited by Zaxxon on Sunday 19th August 22:53