DTV Movements

Wickenby 11 June 2011 - "Project Propeller" - Dave Anderson & Colin Granton

Project Propeller is an annual reunion for WWII aircrew, to which they are flown from all over the country in light aircraft by current volunteer pilots. The venue is changed every year, this year it was held at Wickenby airfield in Lincolnshire. I had the chance this year to accompany Colin in Cessna 177B Cardinal G-BRDO taking two veterans along, John Harper, 93, a navigator who had flown many types & Tony Chamberlain, 87, an ex Lancaster pilot who was actually based at Wickenby, so today was even more special for him. Weston Aviation, our resident executive handling company had kindly handled the passengers taking them to and from the aircraft in their executive transport, (thanks to Sara, aka Smiler!!). We left Teesside just after 10am for a very pleasant flight down, John had spent two years at RAF Scampton during the war, Colin had spoken to them who had allowed us to do do a low approach and go around so we could show John RAF Scampton as it is now. As we approached the Waddington zone, things got a little hectic for the controller with so many aircraft heading for Wickenby at the same time he declared that he could not offer a service and aircraft should stop calling him! We did our approach into RAF Scampton, the Red Arrows were on the pan preparing for their later flyby and headed over to join the very busy circuit at Wickenby. While the veterans met and did their thing we had a good wander around the airfield and met up with some of the other regular volunteer aircrew that help out each year. The Red Arrows did a flyby before heading off to see the Queen, a lone Spitfire and later the BBMF Dakota flew through. The weather turned a little showery just as proceedings came to an end so just after 3pm we returned home to Teesside. Just to round the day we did off a high speed low level run & break down runway 05. All in all a great day out.