SUPPORTING THE AVRO LANCASTER ‘JUST JANE’ RESTORATION PROJECT
The Lincolnshire Aviation Heritage Centre is currently working on an exciting programme restoring Avro Lancaster NX611. The ultimate goal being to take her to an airworthy condition.
The project, which began several years ago is being carried out over the winter periods so that the aircraft can still be available to the public during the summer months.
“Just Jane” was one of the first 150 B Mk VII Avro Lancasters destined as part of the RAF’s Tiger Force in the Far East, but in the end never saw active service.
In the 1970’s Fred and Harold Panton decided they wanted to purchase a Second World War Bomber to commemorate the death of their brother Christopher who was killed on the Nuremburg Raid in March 1944.
In September 1983 their dream finally became a reality when they purchased NX611 and bought her to East Kirkby
“Just Jane” has undergone many procedures from a complete paint strip in 2016 to the port wing being removed and restored in 2022.
The restoration continues and the whole project is estimated to cost £4million.
At Zero West we are passionate about our heritage and history and are privileged to be able to do our small bit in contributing towards the Lincolnshire Aviation Heritage Centre’s NX611 Just Jane restoration cause.
As part of our Dambuster Lancaster watch launch earlier this year we commissioned an original oil painting by the world-renowned aviation artist Mark Postlethwaite. Our intention was to donate the painting to a worthy cause, and none is so fitting as getting NX611 Just Jane airworthy again. The magnificent painting measuring 42″ x 30″ depicts the subject of our Dambuster watches, Lancaster ED825 AJ-T, flown by Big Jo McCarthy in the early hours of 17thMay 1943, on its return from the Sorpe Dam where bomb aimer Johnny Johnson recalls flying past the breached Mohne Dam. It must have been a sight to behold, and Mark has captured every detail of it in his spectacular work of art.
The painting truly is a one-off and the ‘silent auction’ that we ran at the start of 2023 has raised a considerable donation to the Just Jane cause. 100% of the winning bid from the auction has been donated directly to East Kirkby and the painting is now on its way to the lucky new owner. You can find out more about the progress of the restoration at the Lincs Aviation website.
