Local Lynx No.133 - August/September 2020

ules are maintained we would be limited to only 6-8
visitors at a time to the Dome itself. A possible solution,
which we think could meet all the rules and keep our
staff and visitors safe, may be to pre-book visits eg in
one to one and a half hour slots. The website (link
above) is regularly updated, so please refer to that for
the latest Dome news and before making a wasted
journey expecting to find us open or only opening
against bookings.
Preparatory work has been
completed for mounting of
the full size replica Spitfire
outside the Dome - with the
foundations and mounting
now installed as you can see
from this picture. If all goes
well it should have the Spitfire mounted on it in August,
with CCTV security coverage. However the formal
unveiling and dedication ceremony will only take place
once the Dome can re-open normally - hopefully in
April 2021.
Whether we are fully open or not we are still
planning to celebrate the 80 th Anniversary of the Battle
of Britain by holding the B of B Prize Draw in the
Dome grounds at noon on 13th September. With the
shut down the Draw is now a very important part of our
fund raising for this year with great prizes that include a
Tiger Moth flight from Langham and also a helicopter
flight, as well as a flight simulator experience and a £50
cash prize. We have also been donated a large framed
Spitfire print painted by artist Barrie Clark - a very
appropriate prize for this anniversary. There are a host
of other prizes. If you have not yet bought Draw tickets
please come along at any time after 10.30 on 13th
September to buy them on the day. However we hope
that Lynx readers will support us by purchasing tickets
in advance and paying by BACS or cheque, either online
by contacting admin@langhamome.org (please e-
mail initially and we will get back to you with payment
and ticket details), or by telephone to John Blakeley on
01263 861008. Books of five tickets cost just £5. All
winners will be notified.
Visitors to the Dome see exhibits and films which
relate to the various squadrons that served at Langham
during WW2. One squadron that had a life saving role
in the conflict was No. 280 Squadron which was one of
several air-sea rescue squadrons formed at RAF
Thorney Island on 10th December 1941. It was
originally going to be equipped with the Lockheed
Hudson, but these aircraft were still in great demand in
1941, and so the squadron received the older Avro
Anson instead. These aircraft were used to provide airsea
rescue cover off the coast of the south-east of
England and off East Anglia.
In October 1943 the Ansons were replaced by the
Vickers Warwick. Originally intended as a heavy
bomber, the Warwick had the range needed for longer
patrols, and the squadron's area of responsibility
expanded to include more of the North Sea from that
covered by the Anson. The Warwick could also carry air
droppable life boats, instead of the dinghies carried by
the Ansons.
Sqn Badge Warwick with lifeboat fitted
In common with virtually all WW2 Squadrons 280
moved around the country and was based at Langham
on three occasions - July to November 1942, September
and October 1944 and November 1945. The squadron
stayed in service for a year after the war’s end, but was
split into small detachments, spread out from Cornwall
to Scotland and even Iceland. The squadron finally
disbanded at RAF Thornaby on 21st June 1946.
Despite their life saving role the aircraft of 280 Sqn
were very much part of the conflict, and of course to an
enemy fighter pilot in many circumstances it would
have been difficult to distinguish the Warwick from its
close cousin the Wellington bomber. The story of one
week at Langham, researched by our historian John
Allan, involving the loss of three Langham based
aircraft; the luck of two crews and the loss of one
complete crew, well illustrates this point
Day 1 - 3 Oct 44
00.07: Beaufighter TFX NT909/E of 489 Sqn (RNZAF)
Crewed by W/O Mann and F/Sgt Kennedy takes off
from Langham on an anti-shipping “Rover” patrol off
the Dutch Coast.
Approx 01.30: NT909 attacks an enemy ship but
collides with a balloon cable or the rigging of a ship and
immediately has to ditch. Mann and Kennedy survive
and take to a life raft.
Afternoon: The pilot of a USAAF P47 Thunderbolt spots
Mann and Kennedy in their raft and reports the sighting.
The crew of a crashed USAAF B-17 are also in a raft
about 15 miles away but have not been spotted.
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