The EK43 weekend was a follow on from the RAF90 weekend from last year. Taking East Kirkby back to the year of 1943, when the airfield was open, there were 100 re-enactors with the British, Dutch, Czechs, Polish and the Australians all
The weekend started with an opening parade from all of the re-enactors on the Saturday morning. East Kirkby once again was descended upon by over 100 re-enactors. This event was even bigger than last year with a jam packed Bank Holiday weekend.
Saturday's main event was "An Audience with a Lancaster Crew" which gathered together a group of six veterans with every crew position with the exception of a mid upper gunner. The crew each gave fascinating explainations of their roles during an operation and then were kind enough to take questions from the audience. The standing ovation they all received at the end was a clear indication of how they were received by a humble and very respectful audience, very aware of the debt we owe the gentlemen who were sat in front of them. The day was rounded off nicely with a flypast from Lancaster PA474 followed by the second taxy run by Just Jane.
Performances by Lola Lamour and the dance troop took place throughout the weekend, setting the scene for the dance on Saturday night with Sticky Wicket. Another fantastic performance by Sticky, and a great atmosphere with the dance floor full under the watchful gaze of Lancaster Just Jane.
Sunday brought our trip to the memorial at Woodhall Spa for a service in the morning. Despite the late night the previous evening I am pleased to say we had another very good turn out from the re-enactors. After the memorial service we all made our way down to the Petwood Hotel (once the Officers mess for 617 Sqn) for a delicious lunch. Then it was on to the Kinema in the Woods for an exclusive viewing of Appointment in London. For those who could hack the pace the Blubell Inn at Tattershall Thorpe got rather a lot of uniformed visitors that evening.
On Monday there were more performances by Lola Lamour and the dance troop. There was also a re-creation of Dinghy Drill and Bombing up an aircraft. Re-enactments by the WAAFs had taken place all weekend in the control tower, providing a pleasant surprise for customers who weren't expecting to see it working as if it were operational. There were also trade stalls on the site all weekend again and book signings from Douglas Hudson and Ted Cachart. Monday was the 'flying' day with a flypast from BBMF spitfire, and flying displays from the Messchersmit Bf109 and from Lancaster PA474. Thankfully the weather was a bit kinder to us this year and all of the flying went ahead as planned. There were as usual two taxy runs from Lancaster Just Jane.