Early Vulcan Flying… Another view
Mr. Alan Ainsworth, was on the Flight Test and development Team of AV Roe – read on for an interesting account of the early days,
We know how much it means to supporters to have their name on XH558 and become part of her history. Thousands of people have already shown their support and had their name or that of a loved one placed under the wings of this iconic aircraft. This month, we launched a new campaign to have your name on Vulcan XH558 – Names Under the Bomb-Bay.
During the month of October there are anniversaries of two significant moments in Vulcan XH558’s life; her first flight post restoration; and her final flight – the final flight of an Avro Vulcan.
To mark these significant moments in XH558’s flying career, we are offering you the opportunity to have your name under XH558, giving you a permanent connection to this remarkable and historically important aircraft.
On 22 October, we were privileged to welcome Dr James H Burt on a Vulcan XH558 Tour. Dr Burt is a retired GP and ex RAF medic. At 101 years old, he is the oldest person that we have had visit XH558’s cockpit.
On booking the event Dr Burt’s daughter-in-law, Eve, said: “Dad is very excited – we signed him up as a Guardian ages ago and he wears his badge proudly.” Eve also told us that Dr Burt “was a Medical Officer at RAF Waddington and RAF Scampton from 1946-48, looking after Bomber Command and the Dambusters 617 Squadron, as well as working with the USAF stationed down there, so he’s very excited to be coming.”
Dr Burt proudly has his name under XH558 and was accompanied by his two sons on the visit, Dr David Burt and the Rt Hon Alistair Burt. After the visit Alistair said: “I wanted to express my thanks to all of you for providing such an excellent visit the other day. We were blessed with good weather, but the all round enthusiasm and expertise of the team was much appreciated.”
When discussing the visit, Eve told us that Dr Burt had “been to Coningsby recently and went to Waddington for his 100th birthday, so he’s keeping up his tour of airports and bases!!”
Dr Burt’s visit to Coningsby was as a guest at a celebratory tea party to mark the 80th anniversary of the Dambusters’ raids. King Charles III also attended the tea party.
The Dambusters raids – Operation Chastise – were launched from RAF Scampton on the nights of May 16 and 17, 1943. Fifty-three airmen were killed in the famous mission. Avro Lancaster Bombers used bouncing bombs to skim along the surface of the water and destroy three giant dams (Möhne, Eder and Sorpe) in the Ruhr region, where Germany’s steel and armaments industries were based.
You can watch
The True Story of the May 1943 Attack on the Sorpe Dam
In June this year we successfully hosted the Midlands Premiere of the film “Attack on Sorpe Dam”. We are pleased to announce we will be showing the film again, under Licence, with the kind permission of the International Bomber Command Centre, Lincoln. The screening will be a matinee at our Stratford Stores on the 18 November 2023.
The King was introduced to WWII veterans and staff at the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight (BBMF). His Majesty also met RAF Medical Officer Dr Burt, who is not only the oldest person we have had visit XH558’s cockpit, but is also one of the RAF’s oldest surviving medics from WWII.
Lest We Forget
Mr. Alan Ainsworth, was on the Flight Test and development Team of AV Roe – read on for an interesting account of the early days,
Barry Masefield was the Air Electronics Officer (AEO) for Vulcan XH558 and had flown in this iconic aircraft for over 30 years, also being a
Barry Masefield was the Air Electronics Officer (AEO) for Vulcan XH558 and had flown in this iconic aircraft for over 30 years, also being a key
Reproduced from The Vulcan(Club Magazine) 23 Apr 08 Martin Withers Recently, during one of her campaign speeches, I heard Hilary Clinton state quite simply about