Forum for residents of St Georges Park and Long Leys Road Lincoln

[john shipton]

This is for those interested in aviation heritage.

Wing Commander John Ward is no novice when it comes down to flying jet aircraft. He became in 1964 the first flying training graduate to be assigned to the English Electric Lightning one of the fastest aeroplane deployed by the Royal Air Force. John subsequently completed four tours and devised tactics on this formidable and powerful aircraft of its time and which still remains today if it is allowed to return to grace the skies. The challenge is can it out climb the 21st century Typhoon straight up the the heavens? Some pilots believe it can!

In October 1965, English Electric Lightning's arrival to re-born No.5 Squadron took place at RAF Binbrook. This squadron was joined by a second squadron, No.11, in 1972. The Lightning squadrons remained until May 1985 - the last in RAF service.

The final airshow to take place at RAF Binbrook in 1987 (see http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tx28jWfr80w) was on one of the wettest and dismal days for Lincolnshire - good job the Lightning is an all weather fighter! All Lightning aircraft were retired from service with the RAF in 1988, the following year.

This airfield became surplus to RAF requirements and plans were made for its disposal. Before this occurred, Binbrook was selected for location filming of the Warner remake of Memphis Belle. This took place in July 1989 with five B-17 Fortresses on hand, two of which had flown in from the United States and two from France. One of the latter suffered a take-off crash and was burnt out, fortunately without loss of life. A WW2 type control tower was erected in front of the post war building then demolished after the filming was completed. The pan hard standings on the west side of the airfield were used to park the B-17s.

Wing Commander John Ward retired from the RAF in 1993 before which he commanded the operations wing at RAF Coningsby flying the Tornado. Whilst there he also flew the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight WW2 fighter aircraft. He later joined British Aerospace when finally he retired to live in Woodhall Spa in 2003.

So what will be the topic John be speaking about due to accepting the final lecture of 2010 to be held at the Metheringham Airfield Visitor Centre on Wenesday, 24th November, beginning at 7.30pm? It will be about one of his favourite aircraft based at Bruntingthorpe airfield in Leicestershire where two are still airworthy owned the Lightning Preservation Group of which he is actively involved with. The talk is called "The Lightning - A perspective from the Cockpit."

Admission is £5.00 to visitors to included refreshments. It is free to Friends of Metheringham Airfield and veterans of 106 Squadron.

For further enquiries contact 01526 378270 or 378604.

John Shipton,

Press Officer,

Friends of Metheringham Airfield, Lincoln.