Avro Lincoln

Avro Lincoln RF343 61 Sqn - Crash at RAF Waddington MQs 3 September 1952

Attempting a 3 engined overshoot at RAF Waddington on 3 September 1952, No 61 squadron's Avro Lincon
RF343 developed an uncontrollable swing and crashed off the edge of the airfield and nearly missing an estate
of some newly built NCO married quarters and slewed around ending up on a rubbish dump.
The pilot, Flying Officer Frank Hercliffe and the crew escaped unharmed with a few minor injuries.
Sadly 2 days later a disaster struck when 2 small boys had entered the partly burned Lincoln to play after guards
had been been removed and they managed to set off some pyrotechnics believed to be verey
cartridges which ignited the fuel tanks creating a large explosion which led to the death of one of the boys,
a pupil from nearby Bracebridge Heath primary school. The first on the scene was a Lincoln aircrew navigator,
M/Nav Arthur Collins and his 6 year old son who were taking their Irish Setter for a walk from thei nearby married
quarter and shortly thereafter the emergency services arrived but it was too late to save the young boy's life.

Nigel Bailey-Underwood has sent me these two great photos apparently taken at Stansted. I must ask him of the year & date -


Steve

From the web:

Avro Lincoln Test bed RF533 with Radome test nose. RF533 made its last operational flight on 21.4.61 and was struck off charge on 3.5.61, fatigue life exhausted. It was delivered to Stansted Fire Fighting School on 27.6.61 and burnt between 1962 and 1967.

Jet Engine trials
Thought members would like to see this photo. A Lincoln at RAF West Freugh in the 50s with two jet engines and two prop engines. Serial No RA716. RAF West FReugh was a satellite airfield fro RAE Farnborough for some time

When my older brother returned from ATC summer camp at Lindholme in 1961, he told me there had been several Lincolns parked out on the airfield just rotting away, having been replaced (presumably) by Varsities.
There was no sign of them when I went to camp at Lindholme in 1965; only Varsities and Hastings were in use.