Aviation Heritage Lincolnshire (AHL)

Our Heritage, Your Heritage - Aviation Heritage Lincolnshire

On Friday 23rd March a new promotional video about aviation heritage in the county of Lincolnshire was launched on both YouTube and Vimeo.

AHL is funded by a Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) award of £436,000 and AHL’s remit is to work with various venues to raise the profile of aviation heritage in the county. The short promotional video clip has been produced for AHL by Lincoln based Electric Egg and it showcases ten aviation venues across the county of Lincolnshire.

This new video clip can be viewed on the following links:


The video clip will be used to promote the aviation heritage in the county at major events like trade shows at the NEC; the Waddington International Air Show; and will be available for viewing via the AHL website homepage at www.aviationheritagelincolnshire.com

On the introduction on the Vimeo website the following text describes the video contents: “Join us on a journey through Lincolnshire's extensive and rich aviation heritage. From the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight's flying Spitfires, Hurricanes, Dakota and Avro Lancaster, to the Digby Lima Sector Operations Room, to Just Jane at the Lincolnshire Aviation Heritage Centre and the many other heritage sites and airbases across the county.”

“We hope that individuals who are proud of the county’s diverse aviation heritage will share the clip with their friends and relatives around the world.” Commented Dave Harrigan AHL’s Outreach and Learning Officer, he concluded. “The clip has already attracted many positive comments from around the world and we hope that it will encourage people to come and visit the various aviation sites across the count.”

16th May 2012 – Falklands Campaign 30th Anniversary Talk
“Sailing With The Queen”

This year marks the 30th Anniversary of the Falklands Campaign, which saw a British Task Force sail to the South Atlantic Ocean to liberate the Falkland Islands that had been invaded by Argentina.

Lincolnshire played an active part in the campaign through the Black Buck bombing raids that were planned at RAF Waddington. However Aviation Heritage Lincolnshire (AHL) has chosen to commemorate the campaign in a slightly different format, but still with a Lincolnshire connection.

Lincolnshire resident Stephen Hallam was Chief Pattisier on the Cunard liner the Queen Elizabeth 2 (QE2) and he will give a talk entitled, “Sailing With The Queen” on 16th May 2012 at 7.30pm at the Branston Hall Hotel, Branston, Lincoln. Stephen will highlight his exploits from pampering passengers luxuriously cruising around the world to suddenly being thrown into the cold and stark reality of the South Atlantic Campaign.

Like many Cunard liners before her the QE2 was hastily modified into a troop carrier, through the addition of helicopter landing pads; installation of temporary fuel pipes to allow for refuelling at sea; and converting public lounges into troop accommodation. The QE2 set sail from Southampton on 12th May 1982, with around 650 volunteer crewmembers; and carrying nearly 3,000 troops of the Fifth Infantry Brigade, which was the main British land fighting force. Details of that epic voyage to South Georgia will be the main highlight of Stephen Hallam’s talk.

Admission to the event will cost £5.00 per person, with proceeds being donated to the ‘Flights for Life’ charity. Tickets need to be booked in advance by contacting AHL via e-mail This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or by telephoning 01529 308135/ 01529 308172.

Venue:
The Branston Hall Hotel
Branston
Lincoln
LN4 1PD

Updates about the events being organised by AHL can be found on their website at www.aviationheritagelincolnshire.com

Received from Howard Heeley, Down To Earth Promotions

Augsburg Raid 70th Anniversary Talk – A great success!

Seventy years to the day after the daring low level daylight bombing raid on the MAN diesel factory in Augsburg, Southern Germany was mounted by Bomber Command; Aviation Heritage Lincolnshire (AHL) hosted a talk at the Petwood Hotel, Woodhall Spa, Lincs.

Aviation historian Robert Owen gave an illuminating and detailed overview of how the raid was mounted; the rationale behind it; and the lessons learnt about that type of low-level daylight raid.

Around one hundred and fifty (150) people gathered at the Petwood Hotel, very close to one of the two Lincolnshire RAF bases from where the raid was mounted on an important factory in the German U-Boat production programme.

Special guest for the evening was Patrick Dorehill, a former member of 44 (Rhodesia) Squadron; and Patrick flew as Squadron Leader John Nettleton’s second pilot on the raid. Squadron Leader John Nettleton’s grandson James Nettleton was also a special guest of AHL, along with several other World War II veterans.

The Augsburg Raid was mounted by a combined force of 12 Lancaster aircraft operating from Lincolnshire with 44 (Rhodesia) Squadron at RAF Waddington and 97 Squadron at RAF Woodhall Spa; with significant diversionary tactics being deployed by several other RAF squadrons. The raid helped shape Bomber Command’s future operations; helped prove the viability of the Avro Lancaster as a main force RAF bomber; and resulted in the award of the Victoria Cross to the raid’s leader Squadron Leader John Nettleton, plus several other awards including DFCs, DFMs and a DSO

Proceed from the talk are being donated to the ‘Flights for Life’ charity, which is based in Lincolnshire.

From AHL



To mark the one hundredth (100) anniversary of the formation of the Royal Flying Corps Aviation Heritage Lincolnshire (AHL) is hosting a talk by Andy Johnson entitled "World War One Aviation in Lincolnshire" on Saturday 23rd June 2012.

Lincolnshire’s location and open countryside made it an ideal location for the development of airfields during World War I. My mid-1915 Lincoln itself had become one of the top five aircraft manufacturing centres, with more than 5000 aircraft being built there, by companies such as Robey; Ruston, Proctor & Co Ltd; Clayton & Shuttleworth; and Marshall & Son.

Aviation historian Andy Johnson’s talk on Saturday 23rd June 2012 takes place at 2.00pm at the Doubletree Hilton Hotel Lincoln. Andy will look at the formation of the Royal Flying Corps and provide an overview the county’s early airfields and its aircraft industry.

The afternoon event will also include the official launch of a new commemorative booklet entitled “Lincolnshire Aviation in World War One” that has been published in association with the Airfield Research Group, about the county’s World War I era aviation history.

Admission to the event will cost £5.00 per person, with proceeds being donated to the ‘Flights for Life’ charity. Tickets must be booked in advance by contacting AHL via e-mail This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or by telephoning Debbie Roberts on 01529 308172, or Dave Harrigan MBE on 01529 30813.

Venue:
Doubletree Hilton Hotel Lincoln
Brayford Wharf North
Lincoln
LN1 1YW
2pm

Updates about this and other events being organised by AHL can be found on their website at www.aviationheritagelincolnshire.com

A central theme of Aviation Heritage Lincolnshire’s (AHL) business plan is innovative interaction with the schools, education establishments and voluntary-led young people groups across Lincolnshire. On Thursday 24th May 2012 the latest innovative element in this plan, an interactive display called Counting Them Home was formally launched at the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight Visitor Centre at RAF Coningsby.

Officer Commanding Designate, Battle of Britain Memorial Flight, Sqn Ldr Duncan Mason undertook the first ‘Official Op’ on Counting Them Home and his immediate reaction to the interactive display was, “This is exactly what we need to impart the story in a simple way to the younger generation!”

AHL is funded by a Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) award of £436,000 and AHL’s remit is to work with various venues to raise the profile of aviation heritage in the county, and promote aviation within schools and colleges. The Counting Them Home interactive display is based around a Lancaster, with a seasoned crew, departing an airfield in Lincolnshire and completing a raid over occupied Europe.

Around the interactive display there are six pod stations that have to be successfully ‘navigated’ before the crew can return home safely. The game can be played by up to six people at any one time and is suitable for young people and families. Official statistics were incorporated into this mechanically operated display module to simulate losses at all stages of the raid – from take-off; coastal flak; night fighters; and anti-aircraft fire.

The Counting Them Home interactive display is fully transportable and at different times of the year it will be relocated to different sites in the AHL partnership. Bookings have already been taken for Counting Them Home to be used at the following AHL sites:

Metheringham Airfield Visitors Centre 9th – 10th June 2012
RAF Wickenby Memorial Museum 16th – 17th June 2012
Battle of Britain Memorial Flight Centre 1st – 31st July 2012
Lincolnshire Aviation Heritage Centre 15th September 2012

“The introduction of Counting Them Home provides another exciting opportunity for Aviation Heritage Lincolnshire and its partner sites to interact with Lincolnshire’s young people and their families.” Commented Dave Harrigan AHL’s Outreach and Learning Officer (O.L.O), he continued. “The interactive display is very thought provoking and details all aspects of a typical World War II bomber op.” He concluded, “As well as skill, an element of luck has been incorporated into Counting Them Home, because all crews needed a pinch of that to help them survive.”

“World War One Aviation In Lincolnshire”
- Its airfields & aircraft industry

As part of the Aviation Heritage Lincolnshire (AHL) event on Saturday 23rd June 2012; to mark the one hundredth (100) anniversary of the formation of the Royal Flying Corps AHL is officially launching a new commemorative booklet entitled “Lincolnshire Aviation in World War 1”

The booklet has been prepared on behalf of AHL by Chris Percy and Noel Ryan of the Airfield Research Group and it has been published with the additional support of the City of Lincoln Council. At 48 pages long the booklet details 38 World War I aerodromes; German air raid on the county; and details of the aircraft industry of the county and in the City of Lincoln.

Lincolnshire’s location and open countryside made it an ideal location for the development of airfields during World War I. My mid-1915 Lincoln itself had become one of the top five aircraft manufacturing centres, with more than 5000 aircraft being built there, by companies such as Robey; Ruston, Proctor & Co Ltd; Clayton & Shuttleworth; and Marshall & Son.

The event, which also includes aviation historian Andy Johnson’s talk entitled "World War One Aviation in Lincolnshire", takes place at 2.00pm at the Doubletree Hilton Hotel Lincoln. Andy will look at the formation of the Royal Flying Corps and provide an overview the county’s early airfields and its aircraft industry.

Admission to the event will cost £5.00 per person, with proceeds being donated to the ‘Flights for Life’ charity. Tickets must be booked in advance by contacting AHL via e-mail This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or by telephoning Debbie Roberts on 01529 308172, or Dave Harrigan MBE on 01529 30813.

Venue:
Doubletree Hilton Hotel Lincoln
Brayford Wharf North
Lincoln
LN1 1YW

Time: 2pm

Where sold copies of the booklet will cost £3.00 each, with proceeds going to the charity ‘Flights For Life’.

Updates about this and other events being organised by AHL can be found on their website at www.aviationheritagelincolnshire.com

Please note the email address given for Dave Harrigan in the article above is wrong. The correct email is:

This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

The ARG display boards will also be at this event.

Just a reminder this talk and booklet launch is tomorrow, Saturday 23rd June at 2pm.

A good talk at the Hilton in Lincoln, Andy spoke for an hour followed by a Q&A session. The booklet complied by ARG was well received and there was interest in our display with several leaflets taken and a couple of application forms.

Photo at the ARG boards following the talk.
L-R Chris Percy, Warren Smart, Noel Ryan and Andy Johnson