A sharp rap on the OC's(Officer Commanding) door is answered and the ATC DO (Air Traffic Control Duty Officer) enters and salutes.

"Please be seated Jonathan we know each other well enough to dispense with the formalities when meeting in private".

"Yes Sir, I mean William, we have a junior ATC from Scampton now they are closing on transfer and it's his first day on duty and I was wondering if a "solid introduction"was Ok by you William".

"Jonathon, as long as safety is not comprimised and their is no hint of hazing I trust your judgement so go ahead. But please tell me what you have in mind".

"William can we turn on your ATC monitor".

"Of course do it now".

The monitor soon crackles into life.

"Coningsby Tower aircraft with call sign Juliet November Tango please repeat your aircraft type I thought you said Lancaster?"

"Lancaster PA474 may assist you and I have two Spirtfires as escort they are carrying Papa7350 & Alpha Bravo910 call signs,does that assist?"

The Senior ATC DO answers his mobile "Sir sorry to bother you but the lads here in ATC said only you should be contacted when a real problem arises to offer an immediate direction, oh sorry this is Junior ATC Smith-Jones in the control tower".

"Well Mr Smith-Jones please explain your problem after all I realise it is your first day here at Coningsby".

"Sir the RAF lads are playing a joke on me I reckon they know it's my first day." "The aircraft on taxiway 34S is claiming to be a Lancaster with two Spitfires as escort", " I maybe be new but even I know Coningsby is a Hornet base,Sir".

"Mr Smith-Jones those lads are always very proper in procedures there is no room for joking".

"Sir please they now asking for immediate release as a FW109 has come up on the radar and they claim to be sitting ducks on the ground".

"Mr Smith-Jones is there any reason why you cant release them immediately".

"No Sir, but I dont have air data for the types they are claiming".

"Mr Smith-Jones this is RAF Coningsby you realise, they did give you appropiate training after Scampton closed?"

"But Sir?"

"Mr Smith-Jones if you dont release those aircraft immediately not only will you be in the OC's Office in 5 minutes but you can then explain direct to Her Majesty's Private Secretary why HM was waiting at the Palace for the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight to fly over-do I make myself clear?"

"Yes Sir Lancaster PA474 & escort Spitfires AB910 & P7350 you may take off immediately on Runway 34S"is heard on the OC's monitor.

"One last thing Mr Smith-Jones please tell the lads to watch out for the FW109".

"Yes Sir shall I request a kill?"

"Mr Smith-Jones for God's sake man it's the only one left flying in the world, and for Coningsby to be selected for manintainance maybe worth a Million pounds in new visitors to BBMF, I dont think you had better suggest that, infact the OC has just handed me an order after your shift you have been detailed to clean out our hanger and clean the FW109- welcome to Coningsby lad".

So on my second visit to RAF Coningsby I was accompanied by Merrilyn to show her some more of the history of WW2 and to hopefully again see PA474 the only Lancaster flying in Britain and one of only two that fly in the world. The other being in Canada. Two others are nearing flying condition,interestingly one is only a few miles away and it is the only privately owned Lancaster in the world and she is at the stage where under her own four Rolls Royce engines can make tail up taxi runs. I have had the priveledge in 2015 of being able to enter this aircraft and assume both the pilots and navigators seats.

This was done to simulate the same activity I did in Canada at Nanton where their example has now finished the fitting of engine number 3 after refurbishment.

The BBMF has being stationed at RAF Coningsby since the original start of this operational unit of the RAF in July 1957 at RAD Biggin Hill, it is funded by two sources the normal operational costings by The ministry of Defence and the running along with the two full time RAF Flying staff are supplemented by the the volunteer RAF pilots and the City of Lincoln congributions. Tourism also assist in maintaining the visitors centre.

The fleet of 12 aircraft, the Lancaster,a C-47 Dakota, six Spitfires,two Hurricanes and two DH Chipmonks are housed in the bases dedicated maintaince hanger where regular RAF aircrew work on all aspects from presentation markings to full rebuilds that in their words "will keep these irreplaceable aircraft operation as fully airworthy examples for ever." These aircraft are maintained to a standard far above their new status and therefore must earn their keep." if they crash we rebuild them such was the case with Hurricane LE363 but after 3 years of finding suitable staff & 4 years of rebuilding again flies. similiarly Spitfire TE311 spent 58years between it's last flight and rejoining the skies in 2012 as the OC's personal aircraft at BBMF".

In a normal summer season this means around 100 flying shows but as 2018 is the 100th Anniversary of the RAF an incredible 900 appearances will occur.

My lasting memories will be seeing PA474 starting,( an anxious time as twice engine no 4 refused to start and should that have occured on the 3rd attempt she would have been grounded automatically) warming her engines,taxing onto the runway and becoming airborne (carrying for 2018 Australian colours on her port side) escorted by two Spitfires-Thanks Mr Smith-Jones and dont forget to clean the FW109!