Battle of Britain and the UK Blitz 1940-1941
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These aircraft were used to deliver and collect secret agents into France during WW2. The bravery of the pilots, landing in the dead of night, in a field lit only by a few torches, is something I can't even begin to understand. Every landing could have been an ambush. The courage of the people they were transporting is on another level - beyond my comprehension. It throws our day-to-day travails into sharp perspective.
The Lysander was used extensively in the Second World War to insert SOE agents into France. The Shuttleworth Collection's Lysnader (actual serial V9552) wears the markings of V9367 as flown by by Pilot Officer Peter Vaughan-Fowler, DSO, DFC and bar, AFC, No.161 Squadron RAF.
Designed by the 'brilliant but difficult' W.E. 'Teddy' Petter.
Petter had a general distrust of pilots' abilities and so the Lysander has a surprising degree of automation for a 1930s aircraft - fully automatic leading edge slats, slotted flaps and a variable incidence tail plane, which gave the Lysander remarkable short field landing and take off capabilities, as well as excellent slow speed handling.
Originally designed for daylight artillery spotting, the Lysander remains best known for clandestinely dropping and collecting secret agents from occupied France in the dead of night - hence the permanently attached step ladder, to facilitate rapid entrance and egress. The all black paintwork was intended to make the plane less visible in the dark, but if there was any moonlight at all, it created a clear silhouette, and I believe the camouflage was soon changed to a more regular disruptive green/brown pattern. There are certainly two Lysander aircraft airworthy in the UK, and I think a third is being restored to flight at Duxford. This one is based at Old Warden.
The Westland Lysander was designed by the 'brilliant but difficult' W.E Petter, known to his friends, but presumably not his colleagues, as Teddy. Petter distrusted pilots as a species, and this aircraft design has a surprising degree of automation for the 1930s, ie fully automatic flaps and slats, to make take-off and landing easier - and hence less likely for pilots to 'bend' Petter's brilliant design.
The Lysander is best known for the dropping and collection of Secret Agents in occupied France in the dead of night, and it also served widely as a general liaison aircraft.
Several of the 1700 built survive to this day - two are certainly in airworthy condition in the UK, and I believe a third is being restored to flight.
Good view into the cockpit of this Lysander, famously used for delivering and recovering agents from occupied France, under cover of darkness, during WW2.
Despite its appearance, the Lysander was very advanced for its day, with fully automatic slats and flaps to facilitate the slow flying speeds needed to land in barely-lit fields. The aircraft was designed by the 'brilliant but difficult' Teddy Petter, one of those genius types you'd be glad to have on your side, provided you didn't have to work for him.
The Shutteworth Collection's Lysander is seen here over lts home base of Old Warden.
Aircraft Restoration Company (ARCO) - Battle of Britain - Duxford Air Show - Imperial War Museum - Duxford - Cambridgeshire.
No. 161 (Special Duties) Squadron was a highly secretive unit of the Royal Air Force. It was tasked with missions of the Special Operations Executive (SOE) and the Secret Intelligence Service (SIS) during the Second World War. Their primary role was to drop and collect secret agents and equipment into and from Nazi-occupied Europe.
Westland Lysander V9673 in No. 161 Squadron markings, coded MA-J, at the Imperial War Museum, Duxford. This is a former Royal Canadian Air Force aircraft.
What the title says really , a shot of the recent Wolf Moon added to a shot taken of The Lysander when seen at a Shuttleworth Air Display back in 2017 . The Lysander shot was taken on a sunny afternoon converted to mono and changed to a night scene . The Lysander caried out many covert missions usually over France during WW2 .
The Westland Lysander is a British army co-operation and liaison aircraft produced by Westland Aircraft that was used immediately before and during the Second World War.
The Lysander cooperation and liaison aircraft were the response to the British Air Ministry's Specification A.39/34 of 1934. Equipped with automatic wing slats and slotted flaps, the design was rather advanced. The design won the contract in Sep 1936. They entered service in Jun 1938, mainly used for artillery spotting and message dropping. During the Battle of France in 1940, a squadron of Lysander aircraft was used as light bombers, suffering high loss rate by German fighters. After the fall of France, most Lysander aircraft were withdrawn from combat units and served mainly in liaison and air-sea rescue roles. In Aug 1941, Squadron No. 138 RAF was formed with several Lysander aircraft, among others, to maintain contact with French Resistance cells; Squadron No. 138 conducted supply drops, delivered and retrieved agents, and rescued downed pilots sheltered by the French. Because of they were able to operate on small open fields, Lysander aircraft performed admirably.
ww2dbaseThe Free French, Finland, Ireland, Egypt, the United States and several other nations operated Lysander aircraft. Egyptian Lysander aircraft, which operated against Israel during the War of Independence in 1948, were the last to see active service.
HWW
"...by tale or by history, the course of true love never did run smooth"... Lysander.
"A Midsummer Night's Dream" was double cast this year, with Mika playing Lysander on opening night and Mustardseed the following day. My version has Mika playing both roles at the same time. Hey...granpa's artistic licence!
RAF Westland Lysander V9673 coded MA-J of 161 Squadron hangs from the roof in AirSpace at the Imperial War Museum, Duxford.
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RAF Westland Lysander V9312 G-CCOM LX-E
1941 the Aircraft was based at RAF Lyneham
The Lysander was used primarily to drop off and pick up secret agents this aircraft is now Based at Duxford
Aircraft was built in 1940 at the Westland factory in Yeovil Somerset UK
Photo taken at Old Warden Spies and Intrigue Evening Airshow
Held at Shuttleworth Museum Old Warden Aerodrome Biggleswade Bedfordshire UK 14th May 2022
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♥ FAGA - Novia Hairstyle ♥
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♥ Faga. ♥
♥ {Le\'La} Dark Lysander Set ♥
♥ Dress | Glitter Gems | Fur Jacket | Boots | Necklace & Earrings | BOM Stockings ♥
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☻ 2 Fitted Mesh for Ebody Reborn/Waifus
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Matchbox 1/72 Kit (modified with Airfix bits)
Done up in the colours of the 161 Special Ops squadron based at Tempsford.
Lysander V9312 (G-CCOM) has been owned by the Aircraft Restoration Company since 2003 and was restored to flying condition by a team of full time and volunteer engineers. It was built by Westlands during 1940 and is believed to be the only solely Westland built Lysander to be restored to airworthy condition in the UK, the others having incorporated Canadian built components.
The aircraft was taken on charge by the RAF at 33 M.U. at Lynham on 4th January 1941 and subsequently served with 613, 225 and 4 Squadrons.
The Lysander was used extensively in the Second World War to insert SOE agents into France. The Shuttleworth Collection's Lysnader (actual serial V9552) wears the markings of V9367 as flown by by Pilot Officer Peter Vaughan-Fowler, DSO, DFC and bar, AFC, No.161 Squadron RAF.
Shuttleworth at Home. The 3rd of 3 extra shows at Old Warden. This time all around agriculture and tractors from WWI through WWII and on to the 2000s. Plus a selection of Shuttleworth's unique vehicles and Aircraft.
RAF Westland Lysander V9367 G-AZWT Nickname the Lizzie RCAF s/n 2355
After the Aircraft was built it served with the Royal Canadian Air Force s/n 2355
Lysander is now painted to resemble V9367 MA-B of No. 141 RAF Squadron G-AZWT Nickname the Lizzie
Lysander was flown by F/O Peter Vaughan-Fowler of 161 (Special Duties) Squadron during March 1943 aircraft was used to carrying agents to and from occupied France during WWII
and 1938 RAF Gloster Gladiator 1 K7985 G-AMRK
In 1938 this aircraft served with the RAF as L8032
Aircraft flies in the colours of RAF 73 Squadron
Old Warden Drive in Airshow 2nd August 2020
Photo taken at Shuttleworth Old Warden Aerodrome Biggleswade Bedfordshire UK
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