Lincolnshire's Lancaster Association Members Day 2019 (28th September)

LLA Members Day 2019 - Cody Froggatt
The Lincolnshire's Lancaster Association (LLA) is a Registered Charity that holds a unique position as the support Group for the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight.

The Association was formed from the Lincolnshire Lancaster Committee, which was a small group of people who came together when the Lancaster was moved from RAF Waddington to RAF Coltishall in 1973. The original aims of the Committee were to ensure that the Bomber would return to Lincolnshire and that a Lancaster would remain in the county for ever as a memorial to the many aircrew who lost their lives whilst based here during World War II.

Cody Froggatt went along to a very wet Lincolnshire's Lancaster Association (LLA) Members Day at RAF Coningsby on the 28th September 2019. Below is his account of the day with photographs of this event as well as photos taken at Newark Air Museum.


The Lincolnshire's Lancaster Association (LLA) Members Day, came from the home of 'The Battle of Britain Memorial Flight' at Royal Air Force Coningsby. It proved to be one of the most difficult days of the flying season for the flight and of course challenging weather indeed for all the spectators that attended.


The LLA members day, as it's referred to, has always been traditionally the climax of the BBMF's flying season, with the customary OC of the flight delivering the final public thank you speech for the season. Now this year was in stark contrast compared to last year's RAF 100 celebrations, as well as the flight's astounding performance at the Royal International Air Tattoo where they won best overall flying display with the super Trenchard display. Last year the weather was outstanding with perfect flying conditions and overall was amazing with the displays put on by the flight, especially with a hot start with then officer commanding Squadron Leader Andy 'milli' Millikin starting up Spitfire AB910 for his last flight.


This year was a bit different for me as I have become more involved in the association itself, helping out on the stall selling prints and all other such items, as well as being involved with this wonderful website and writing this article too. If you go on the Lincolnshire's Lancaster Association website you can see a whole array of goodies that you can buy, as well you can easily sign up to become a member of the association too. The only quarrel of the day was the weather, now as we know these are vintage WWII aircraft so the weather just has to be on our side to have aircraft up and flying, let alone doing a full flying display. However, the weather did create for some amazing pictures of water droplets on the Lancaster and Spitfires.


As ever, a massive thanks to Royal Air Force Coningsby and the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight for putting on this event for the association and allowing us to commemorate and celebrate. Please do check out the Lincolnshire's Lancaster Association, they are amazing association that are a major supporter of the BBMF. It is worth mentioning that they also own the Avro Shackleton (WR977) and Avro Vulcan (XM594) at Newark Air Museum.

Article & Photographs by Cody Froggatt.