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On the 25th June 2006 I was kindly invited to represent LOBA at the Roll out of AVRO York G-ANTK, by John Roberts of the Duxford
Aviation Society. John and the team have been working on the York since its arrival at Duxford back in 1986. John treated us to a overview
of the York, she was built Yealdon, near Leeds in January 1946 as a York C1 and entered RAF service with 242 Squadron as MW232
in August 1946.
It joined the fleet of Allied aircraft engaged in the Berlin Airlift and in May 1947 the York moved to 511 Squadron at RAF Lyneham,
where it served until May 1950.It was when it was used by Fairey Aviation for flight refuelling research. It then retired to 12 Maintenance
Unit at Kirkbride for storage prior to disposal. In July 1954 MW232 became G-ANTK with Dan-Air and it was used for freight work
until its retirement in May 1964. It was ferried to Lasham and used as a bunk house by the local Air Scouts until 1974. The Dan-Air
preservation group took it over and began to restore the aircraft in their spare time. In the mid 80's Dan-Air realised the impracticality
of the restoration work being undertaken and began negotiations with The Duxford Aviation Society.
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In May 1986 the aircraft was dismantled and on the 23rd of May made its journey to Duxford on seven low loaders.
In the Roll out crowd were Ex Dan Air and Ground crew including the pilot who made the last ever flight in ‘TK’ in 1964.
There were also members of the Berlin Airlift Association who worked on the York during the Berlin airlift The York is now installed
in the new Air Space Hangar at Duxford alongside the Avro Lancaster and Avro Vulcan. The new display is due to open in the spring of 2007.
Next time you go to Duxford pay the Lyneham Old Girl a visit they have done a fantastic job on the restoration.
