Historic bomber returns to Broughton factory for 80th WWII commemorations
A famous WWII aircraft has returned home to her "birthplace", now Airbus' wing building factory in Broughton 80 years on. The Avro Lancaster bomber conducted a number of flypasts over the Broughton site yesterday evening.
It was flown alongside the equally iconic Battle of Britain Memorial Flight (BBMF) Supermarine Spitfire and Hawker Hurricane fighters. It landed at the airfield to a warm welcome from Airbus employees, government officials and community leaders - near an Airbus BelugaXL.
This particular Lancaster, PA474, was built in May 1945 during the Broughton site's early years as a shadow factory for manufacturing Wellington and Lancaster bombers. During this period, the site's legacy of aerospace manufacturing excellence was written by a workforce of Broughton community members ready to meet the challenge of the day. Join the North Wales Live Whatsapp community now
More than half of them were women joining the workforce for the first time. Decades later, the site continues to set the standard for world-class manufacturing, building wings for the Airbus A320, A330 and A350 commercial aircraft families.
In a nod to this proud past and present, the BBMF Lancaster was met by an Airbus BelugaXL, the aircraft used to transport completed wings from Broughton to Airbus' Final Assembly Lines in Europe.
The Lancaster is owned and operated by the RAF's BBMF. It was the star of the recent VE Day celebrations, leading the ceremonial flypast over London.
The Officer Commanding the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight, Squadron Leader Mark Sugden, RAF, said: 'Our flying season so far this year has been memorable with the VE Day celebrations, but this is one of the highlights of the year in a visit that takes our incredible aircraft back to her birthplace.
"Thank you to the whole team at Airbus Broughton for the warm welcome.' Gareth Davies, Airbus' Head of Broughton site, said, 'We are honoured to host the BBMF Lancaster and mark her 80th anniversary as a reminder of the importance of British aerospace history in understanding who we are and where we want to go.
"Our Broughton site has a lot to be proud of, producing the wings that half the world flies on. We're a site that epitomises innovation, advanced manufacturing and a proud workforce who are at the top of their game.
"It's fantastic to be celebrating our heritage with this aircraft.'
The BBMF Lancaster which flew on Friday evening and is called PA474, rolled off the production line at Vickers Armstrong's Broughton (Chester) factory on 31 May 1945. It was one of a contract for 500 aircraft of which only 235 were delivered when production was cancelled in September 1945.
PA474 was built modified for Far East use in preparation for proposed bombing of Japan. But with the end of the war she went directly into storage.
Her later career included photographic reconnaissance, a trials aircraft and appearances in a number of feature films including "Operation Crossbow" and "The Guns of Navarone." She joined the BBMF in 1973.
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