I would be most interested to know if any of my fellow FlyPast readers could throw light on two aircraft which I have been led to believe were the last of their type to be in operational service.
As an early 1950s ATC cadet, our squadron was on camp at RAF Woodvale near Southport. Flying out of there on a daily basis was a Spitfire which we were told was conducting Met flights and was the last Spitfire operating in the RAF. Does anyone know if it’s still flying?
Fast-forward to 1961-1963 when, as an aircraft electrical mechanic on Victor B2s carrying out the B2 flying trials and then with 232 OCU at RAF Cottesmore, we had occasional visits from a Royal Canadian Air Force Lancaster. I recall that, coincidentally, this aircraft was also on Met operations. Word on the base at the time was that the crew ‘engineered’ a fault (perish the thought!) in order to patronise a ‘watering hole’ of some repute on the nearby A1!
That’s as may be, but what I am intrigued to know is if this could have been VeRA which toured the UK in 2014? I had the good fortune to see her, along with our own BBMF Lancaster, at that year’s Southport Airshow. Maybe one of our friends ‘across the pond’ can ignite that light?
Mike Byrom
Prescot, Merseyside
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