File:Avro Lancaster B.X KB976 K (G-BCOH) (6905144345).jpg

The history of KB976 is best described as 'complicated'. Built in Canada in 1945, it was delivered to the UK for the RAF, but immediately returned to Canada as the war had ended. In RCAF service it was converted into a 'B.10(AR) Victory' which gave it an extended nose. Struck off charge in 1964, conversion to a fire bomber was not completed and in 1974 it was registered as G-BCOH and in 1975 flown to the Strathallan Collection in Scotland. When the collection closed in 1987, the aircraft was bought by Charles Church and moved, by road, to Woodford for restoration to fly. Two things then happened. Charles Church was sadly killed in the crash of Spitfire V EE606, and the Woodford hangar containing KB976 collapsed. Doug Arnold, of Warbirds of Great Britain fame, purchased the remains. Then things really got messy!! Mr Arnold purchased 2 further airframes, Avro Lincoln RF342 previously at the Southend museum, and the fuselage of Lancaster KB994 from Canada. The parts of all 3 aircraft then went on a magical mystery tour including Biggin Hill, North Weald and ending up at Sandtoft. Currently, Kermit Weeks has a complete Lancaster airframe at Polk City, Florida which officially has the identity KB976, while the Lincoln is in Australia (or at least on it's way to a museum there). Still with me? So, exactly what do we have here? My guess is that this is the genuine forward fuselage of KB976 which was damaged in the Woodford hangar collapse making it unairworthy, but it is perfectly suitable for static display. The Kermit Weeks KB976 (I suspect) includes the nose section of KB994, combined with the airframe of KB976. Anyway, back to Brooklands. When we visited in June 2011, the Port side was in RAF Bomber Command markings as 'Our Beautiful Babe' while the starboard side remains in genuine RCAF colours. Whatever the history, it's great to see this airframe finally back on display again! msn 277.