Lancaster bomber over Hertfordshire for Dambusters anniversary

The only remaining airworthy Lancaster bomber in the UK took to the skies yesterday (May 16) to mark the mission's anniversary.

Part of the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight (BBMF), plane PA474 took off from its base at RAF Coningsby in Lincolnshire for a flypast over the RAF Museum in Hendon, London.

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The Lancaster bomber (Image: Judy Stansell)Spectators lined the perimeters of bases and nearby roads to catch a glimpse of the plane as its return journey took it over 28 former Bomber Command air bases in Lincolnshire, but some Hertfordshire residents were lucky enough to spot it over their own homes.

Judy Stansell, who managed to snap a photo, said: “Just seen the lovely Lancaster fly over my house in Croxley. Wonderful sight and sound.”

Dawn Lewis filmed the plane after waiting for it to pass over Elstree and described it as “the beauty of the skies”.

“She was a beautiful sight, my grandad flew them”, she added.

The Lancaster bomber (Image: Dawn Lewis)

Adam Cutting, of Croxley Green, said: “We were sat out in the garden having dinner when we heard it’s engines before seeing it.

“It passed right over us, great to see such an iconic plane.”

The Lancaster bomber (Image: Adam Cutting)