Header image: Lancaster B1 PA474 photographed at the 2024 BBMF Members’ Day (Photo: Claire Hartley). (Inset: PA474’s data plate giving its build completion date as 31-5-45.)
On 31st May, BBMF Lancaster B1 PA474 is officially 80 years old, with the data plate located inside the aircraft recording that its original build was completed on 31st May 1945.
Header image: Liberated Allied prisoners of war walk past Lancaster ‘F2-Z’ of 635 (Pathfinder) Sqn at Lubeck aerodrome, Germany, on 11th May 1945, to board a Lancaster for a flight home.
Eighty years ago, in April and May 1945, RAF Bomber Command became involved in an urgent humanitarian operation to repatriate thousands of recently released Allied prisoners of war from Europe to Britain. The Bomber Command operation ran from 3rd April to 31st May 1945 and was given a wholly appropriate code name, Operation Exodus.
During 2025 we are presenting the image from the Club calendar in the newsletter for that month, with some details about the picture, including when and where the photo was taken. All the photos in the calendar were taken by Club members.
