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This story was submitted to the People's War Website by Elizabeth Perez of Stockport Libraries on behalf of Leslie Landells and has been added to the site with his permission. He fully understands the site's terms and conditions.

12 & 626 Squadron ex-aircrews formed an association in 1979 called the Wickenby Register. An annual dinner is held in September, usually on a Saturday. This is followed by a church service on the Sunday beside the Icarus Memorial erected by the members of the Register some years ago.

Quite often the last serviceable Lancaster bomber flies very, very low over us. In recent years it was sometimes escorted by Tornado fighters from 12 Squadron which was located at RAF Conigsby near Wickenby and Lincoln city.

Wickenby is now used for private flying licence instruction and freight service to the Continent and is quite busy.

The original; control tower still in use has been renovated and altered to contain a small RAF wartime museum with original photographs of the layout of the airfield etc and other artefacts.

After the war the airfield was at first disused then used for crop spraying.

One or two of the hangars held huge supplies of DDT. And most of us know the consequences of its use to wild life.

I understand that the first owner of the firm offering private flying and airfreight services was an ex Squadron Leader who flew on operations from Wickenby. And his son then took over when he retired. I am not certain who owns the firm at present.

After the war when the airfield was disused, I lived in Lincoln and Gainsborough nearby for 7/8 years. I visited the airfield sometimes and, especially at dusk, there was a strange compelling aura all around. You couldn’t see or hear anything but there was this profound feeling and atmosphere that haunted you.

Over 1000 airmen died from 12 and 626 Squadrons during the war, the highest total losses on any airfield. One of the Bomber Command of course suffered well over 65% losses.

We have been informed that this year (2005) there is a good chance that the Lancaster will fly again, over the airfield. It is quite a memorable tribute to see all the spectators waving and saluting the memory of the sacrifice made in wartime.

On one anniversary, 12 Squadron, Conigsby, presented a Guard of Honour. At this reunion I got to know the officer pilot leading the guard of honour. He asked me to take photographs for his fiancée. They turned out to be excellent and of course I still have copies. His name was Andrew Greig, Flight Lieutenant and he along with others from 12 Squadron went to Iraq during the conflict.

I am hoping to be taken there again this year with my wife and some members of my family. Boris our Bomb Aimer and his son are coming and we hope to meet Anne Stamp from the local farm, whom I nearly killed as a child, when I had difficulty in landing in November 1944. And others of course, although the attendance grows less as the years go by.

Originally many coaches travelled to the airfield together with many, many cars. Plus members of the local community. Last year (2004) I only counted one or two coaches and a greatly reduced number of cars and number of locals.

The Bishop of Lincoln, John Saxby spoke at the 2004 reunion. The annual memorial serviced was conducted by the Reverend Ian S. Partridge, the Honorary Chaplain to the Wickenby Register who has done so for many years. He was a member of aircrew during the war.

Before I end this story, I will add an account of the most recent 12 and 626 Squadron reunion Memorial Service. A date to remember for the devastating terrorist attacks on New York and other US cities in 2001.

My wife, Marie and some other members of our family came along. Boris our Bomb Aimer also attended with two member of his family. We recalled and exchanged memories as always.

Then Anne Stamp, whom as a child, with her mother, father and brother were involved in the incident when I was landing after the mission to Wanna Eickel, Germany on the 9 November 1944. She had recently remembered that they were transporting a load of sugar beat which helped her to confirm the date of 9.11.44. She introduced me to the Rev. Ian S. Partridge, the Honorary Chaplain to the 12 and 626 Squadron Wickenby Register. He was also the vicar of the local area and Anne was one of his congregation. It was a great pleasure to meet two such nice people again and exchange our fairly similar views. The memorial service was as always inspirational and moving.

I met Dennis Melnik who again travelled from Toronto, Canada. And others who looked after the control tower, museum, records etc.

To cap it all, the last serviceable Lancaster flew over the assembly gathered around the Icarus Memorial erected by members of the Wickenby Register to the memory of the 1000 plus young airmen who gave their lives. We will remember them. It flew
over five times directly overhead at only 100 feet or so. The most times it flew over in the previous years, I think, were two or three.

So altogether it was a moving and thrilling occasion on which to see the ‘Dark Lady’ as named and printed in the Wickenby Register Newsletter No.11 many years ago by Audrey Grealy. I intend to attend again in 2006, ‘God Willing’.

I trust this story will be of interest to readers especially the human interest content.

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