Easy Elsie Lancaster

[tonyvid]

I had the unusual chance to visit this crashed Lanc site in Porjus, just north of the Arctic Circle in Swedish Lapland when I was working there a couple of months ago. I thought I would share a few pics.

If you go, take some decent mossie repellant!!!







It's in amazing condition for a 68year old site! The aircraft was partially burnt by the crew but had so little fuel left it really only damaged small sections. The Swedish military removed the engines soon after the crash and the large bits were sectioned for removal for scrap metal but demand dropped off straight after the war and here it remains. The crew all walked away and survived(probably in the warm embrace of a Sami!)

The site is about 2.5kms off the road and a wooden pathway walk through forest and bog....and huge hungry insects!

A little more info - http://www.lancaster-archive.com/lanc_surv_nf920.h...
http://www.warbirdregistry.org/lancregistry/lanc-n...

Someone else's youtube clip - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7yRO1iFBmMY

Edited by tonyvid on Tuesday 7th August 16:29

[Simpo Two]

'The aircraft is reported to have attempted six bombing runs over the target before releasing its bomb, damaged by flak...'

Not surprising! As the target was obscured by cloud you have to wonder what he was doing.

[tonyvid]

Dedicated!

I think they had been waiting weeks/months for the ship to get within range so went for it. The info board at the site mentioned it had been damaged on one of the very early runs but they kept on going at the target. You have to take your hat off to the bravery and commitment of these guys - I bet they didn't have to write out a full risk assessment every time they opened the door....

[Eric Mc]

Amazing to see original painwork on the tailfin. Why hasn't it been removed to a museum by now?

[fatboy69]

Yep. Health & safety rules/clipboards would have stopped them from making any bombing runs!!!

Total respect to the brave crews of this & many other aircraft.

[Dr Jekyll]

tonyvid said:

I The crew all walked away and survived(probably in the warm embrace of a Sami!)

Or one of the Lap dancers.

[tonyvid]

One of the links says about how many aircraft were involved in the mission - staggering.