The Clitheroe Thursday, July 6th, 2006
Top racers
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Dambusters’ flight relived
by Duncan Smith
AS you read this, high-flying Peter Hothersall should be on his way home from the nostalgia trip of a lifetime, retracing the journey of the Dambusters in
his microlight aircraft. - Aircraft enthusiast Peter, who is
IT manager at Kibble Valley Bor ough Council, set out last Saturday to co-pilot a 1,000-mile round trip to Germany with 11 fellow members of the Bay Flying Club, in Cockerham, fl3ung seven microlights. Their mission was to retrace the
flight of 617 Squadron RAF, other wise known as “the Dambusters”, over the Sorpe, Mohne and Eder Dams, stopping every 100 miles or so to re-fuel during the week-long trip that was months in the plan ning. Speaking prior to take-off,
Clitheroe resident Mr Hothersall said: “We are undertaking the flight in the spirit of peace and reconcilia tion. I t is a nostalgia trip and a small act of homage to the incredi ble bravery of the airmen of both Britain and Germany during the Second World War.”
In his spare time, he is also restor
ing a Rans S9 Chaos single-seater aircraft in his garage. He bought the aircraft - perfect for aerobatics - after completing an aerobatic flight in the US two years ago in a Har vard Second World War fighter. “I decided aerobatics was the way
forward for me and searched for a suitable aircraft on the Internet,” said Mr Hothersall. “I found the Rans and
approached the owner, who informed me it had been out of serv ice for three years and made me an offer to buy that I simply couldn’t refuse.” Mr Hothersall has spent two or
three nights a week and most week ends completely refurbishing the aircraft by hand. Now the intrepid machine, which he has painted canary yellow, has passed its flight inspection. The next stage is a rigor ous one-hour test flight next month by an independent flight inspector, after which it will be kept at the Cockerham Air Field. Now Mr Hothersall cannot wait
to take to the air in the Rans and try it out on a series of aerobatic manoeuvres, including looping the loop, barrel rolling and the “Immul-
man”, which was made famous by British pilots during Second World War dogfights. The council employee, who quali
fied as a microlight pilot six years ago and last year qualified as a “GA”- general aviation - pilot, described being airborne as an absolute privilege. He added: “Before I started fly
ing, I enjoyed karting and ski rac ing. I have suffered more than the odd broken bone, but you only live once and flying tops everything!” Our picture shows Mr Hothersall
with the Rans S9 Chaos aircraft he has restored in his Clitheroe garage,
(s) • The Dambusters were the crews of 617
Squadron RAF, a hand-picked squadron formed for a single top secret mission. • They were only told at the last minute that
they would be taking part in a raid codenamed Operation Chastise on May 16th, 1943. • Their mission was to destroy vital dams in
the Ruhr industrial area of Germany using a new “bouncing bomb” devised by Dr Barnes Wallis. 0 They had to fly their Lancaster Bombers
at an extremely low level at an exact speed in almost complete darkness.
ii 0 Eight of the 19 aircraft were lost - five of
them on the way to the targets, two during the attacks and one on the way home. 0 Fifty-three out of 133 airmen lost their
lives, with three being taken prisoner. 0 Around 1,200 civilians lost their lives in
the bombing and subsequent flooding, among them 600 Eastern Europeans in forced labour at a labour camp. 0 Operation Chastise has become a legend
in the annals of military aviation for the hero ism and skill of the pilots, as well as a poignant emblem of the tragedy of war.
m ' PAGE 26
Only in this week’s Advertiser
I
andi Times CLITHEROE canoe ace Jonnie Schofield has won a gold medal in the men’s Wild Water Racing World Cup Series. Now-21, he was com-
peting in his first sea son as a senior in the five races held in Italy and Austria. Af^r his success he was inter viewed for Radio 4’s Today programme. ■ 0 Turn to page 48 for picture and full story.
WITH just two weeks to go before the end of the summer term, there are widespread fears that the town’s main otit-of-school club
: could close. A number of primary
schools have estab lished their own after- school facilities which have impacted on attendance at Trinity’s 11-year-old club. 0 Turn to page 2 for
full story and reaction from parents.
THE latest news on the Ultraframe takeover ' bid.
. . f 0 Turn tb'page 2. FAMILY NOTICES... PAGES 16,17 ■ AT YOUR SERVICE... PAGES 6,7 ■ VILLAGE NEWS... PAGES 10,11 No. 6,258 news and views from the Centre of the Kingdom
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