Loved watching this one. I have lived near RAF Sudbury and Lavenham all of my life. I have spent many an hour walking around Sudbury with my mum and brother. Alas about to be lost to a massive housing development. Thank god for videos like this.👍👍
Were you around Lavenham in 1969 when the Lancaster NX611 flew in from Biggin Hill and Neil Williams buzzed the Control Tower ? ? Makes me sad seeing the runways are no longer there, but I am hoping NX611 WILL fly again after the amazing restoration work they are doing at East Kirkby
No unfortunately a bit before my time. There is a video on RU-vid showing NX611 leaving Lavenham. A knew the guy that serviced her engines. A bit older than me lol. I so hope they get her in the air again .😊
@@steveb8433 Oh that's a shame. You missed a real treat my friend. I was in the ATC at the time and John Roast had recruited a small group of us to go up to Lavenham on the Saturday to inspect and sweep the Main runway in preparation for her arrival on the Sunday, and to be in the Rifle Drill Team "Guard of Honour on her arrival. On the day, our Officers were on top of the Control Tower, with us out in front. We were all wondering where NX611 was when we could hear this very faint hum, then suddenly, VRRROOOOMMMMMM and this HUGE BLACK aircraft ROARED over the Control Tower, blowing the Officers Caps nearly off in the slipstream. Neil Williams then pulled her up in a climb, circled round to the East then came back down to BUZZ the main Runway East to West, at what looked like 10-20ft off the runway. Looked like a Lancasters height above the runway. We were all just STUNNED and mesmerised as he wheeled round again and buzzed the Control Tower again, circled out westwards then came in West to East. I can STILL hear the "tink, tink, tink, tink" of her Merlin's cooling down, as we "Presented Arms" as the crew climbed out. We had all been promised a flight in her, which never materialised, but no matter, that display by Neil Williams MORE than made up for the HOURS in the cold we had spent the day before walking every inch of Lavenham's main runway. Will NEVER forget it, EVER, and it leaves me sad that no "Birds" fly from Lavenham anymore
Amazing video! Hopefully we see some of these important Suffolk airfields restored in the future (despite the closure of rougham) to commemorate their former glory and important roles they played in the war
I live in Australia now and the last few days I spent in the UK before leaving was Christmas 1969 at RAF Stradishall; one of Dad's last postings before retirement after 35 years service. I stayed at the 'Swan' hotel in Lavenham on a visit to the UK in 2017 and although aware of the predominantly US Army Air Force occupied bases around the place, had no idea of airfields at Lavenham or Sudbury.
From one whose undergraduate Geography degree dissertation compared pre-war and post-war land-use change on Norfolk airfield sites, this is a very impressive presentation; thank you. But just one small point (there is always a pedant somewhere) there is no "i" in Royal Ordnance.
Just so well done, guessing in most cases where things once were, to have it all revealed, to then go back to the quintessential peaceful English countryside of today, - thanks only to all those brave men and women of long ago whom we are forever indebted too.............Thank you so much James, (aka The Time Travel Artist) - lest we forget..............
