• About ED559
  • The Crew
  • Building ED559
  • RAF Grimsby (Waltham)
  • 100 Squadron
  • The Target
  • The Lost
  • Remembering ED559
  • Research about ED559
    • Caterpillar Club
    • Lancaster loss card
    • Crew memorials
    • F/Lt Richard A Curle RAFVR Record of Service
    • Harry Riding's Flying Log Book - 1942/43
    • Letter from Wing Commander J.G. Swain
    • Night Bomber Report
    • German defences in the Gironde
    • RAF Gardening Operations during the Second World War
    • Pilot Officer Robert Herbert Chapman
  • About me
  • Links
  • Contact
  • Blog
  • Site Map
  The last flight of Lancaster ED559

International Bomber Command Centre - Open Day

21/5/2017

1 Comment

 
I was incredibly fortunate to learn that the International Bomber Command Centre was having one of its infrequent open days today. I popped along and took some photos. The IBCC will not open fully until December 2017 with an official opening on April 12 2018 (the 100th anniversary of the RAF). 

They have installed the main spire and the names of those service people that died flying from Lincoln airfields (including the crew of ED559); further walls including the names of service personel flying from other airfields both in Britain and elsewhere will follow.

Around the spire trees have been planted (spaced to follow the position of each airfield relative to one another) for the 28 airfields that were active within Lincolnshire. The Chadwick Centre is still being built.

I look forward to returning in the future when it has been completed.

Below are pictures of the names of ED559's crew.

I learned that similar names are separated by three digits (the last three numbers of the person's service number). I also met three veterans and obtained a signed print of a Lancaster. It was great chatting to them - I could have chatted all day but other people were waiting to meet them.
​
The Spire and Commemoration Walls at the International Bomber Command Centre, Lincoln
The Spire and Commemoration Walls at the International Bomber Command Centre, Lincoln
Richard Alexander Curle
Errol Clifton Crapp
David Adrian HArt
Harry Riding
Garnet Walter Durdin
Charles Stuart Challoner
Daniel Last Gooch
Picture
Picture
1 Comment

RAF Grimsby Museum & Exhibition, Waltham Windmill, Lincolnshire

20/5/2017

1 Comment

 
 Located at Waltham Windmill is a small museum and exhibition dedicated to the men and women that served at RAF Grimsby (Waltham) both during and after the Second World War.

Though small it has lots of information, photos and items displayed. ED559 is commemorated on the loss board. There is also a diaorama of the airfield during the war. 
RAF Grimsby Museum & Exhibition, Waltham Windmill
RAF Grimsby Museum & Exhibition, Waltham Windmill
Entrance sign at RAF Grimsby Exhibition
RAF officer uniform
100 Squadron badge and motto
Operations board at RAF Grimsby Exhibition
Diorama of the airfield at RAF Grimsby in 1943
Plaque detailing the opening of Grimsby Municipal Airport in 1939
Bomber losses board at RAF Grimsby Exhibition showing crew of ED559
1 Comment

RAF Grimsby airfield

20/5/2017

1 Comment

 
I was visiting Lincolnshire and managed to drop in on the former airfield at RAF Grimsby (known as Waltham to all those who served there during the war). There's not a great deal left on the site, a few buildings, the former control tower and some weed-strewn sections of tarmac (both main runways and peritrack). 

The main sign has been replaced at the entrance though.
RAF Grimsby (Waltham) entrance sign
Entrance to the former airfield at RAF Grimsby (Waltham). Home to 100 Squadron in 1943.
Runway at RAF Grimsby
Control tower at RAF Grimsby
Control tower at RAF Grimsby (side)
Tarmac at RAF Grimsby
Former crew building at RAF Grimsby
Old crew building at RAF Grimsby (side)
Office building at RAF Grimsby
1 Comment

    Author

    As and when information is found I'll post to this blog.

    Archives

    August 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    November 2019
    December 2018
    September 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    March 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    June 2016
    March 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015

    Categories

    All
    Crew
    Document
    Photograph

    RSS Feed

Home
About ED559
The Crew
Building ED559
RAF Grimsby (Waltham)
100 Squadron RAF
The Target
The Lost Airmen
Remembering ED559
© Craig Smith 2021
Blog
About Me
Research
Links
Contact Me

Site Map
Privacy Policy
  • About ED559
  • The Crew
  • Building ED559
  • RAF Grimsby (Waltham)
  • 100 Squadron
  • The Target
  • The Lost
  • Remembering ED559
  • Research about ED559
    • Caterpillar Club
    • Lancaster loss card
    • Crew memorials
    • F/Lt Richard A Curle RAFVR Record of Service
    • Harry Riding's Flying Log Book - 1942/43
    • Letter from Wing Commander J.G. Swain
    • Night Bomber Report
    • German defences in the Gironde
    • RAF Gardening Operations during the Second World War
    • Pilot Officer Robert Herbert Chapman
  • About me
  • Links
  • Contact
  • Blog
  • Site Map