FighterControl

VC10 ZA148 Retirement

Just before 11am on Wednesday 28th August, 2013 Vickers VC10 K3, ZA148 'G', made its final landing at Newquay Airport, Cornwall (the former RAF St. Mawgan). In doing so the aircraft completed its 48,351st flying hour but now takes up permanent residence as a static exhibit with the Classic Air Force (CAF), where the crew Flt Lts Nick Millikin, Jess Gannon, Kev Booth and Bruce Thompson were greeted by hundreds of enthusiasts and well-wishers. Richard Freail was on hand for AeroResource.

I am so pleased this VC 10 has come to Cornwall. Not only is it a type I'm quite familiar with from my days at BZN but this aircraft carried the the name George Thompson VC. When I was at school in Princes Risborough I became quite friendly with the owners of the local sweet shop (Tiffany's). Mr Les Beach was very interested to hear that I was to join the RAF on leaving school and following my training, I was posted to Brize. I kept in touch with Les and visited him in the shop whenever I was back in the town ( not too far from Brize anyway). He would often tell me stories of his time in the RAF during the war as a wireless operator. One day he mentioned his best mate who Les had joined up with and that this mate of his had gone onto train as a Wop AG. He asked me to take a look at the VC10's at my new base and see if I could find one with the name George Thompson on. I was unaware that the 10's carried VC names at that time, I was just 17 and knew very little really. Sure enough XR806 did. Awarded the VC for attempting to save his Mid Upper gunner from this position in a burning Lancaster, if I remember correctly? Les was immensely proud of his mate and often asked after the aircraft. As time went by, I moved away. I heard some years later that Les had sadly passed away having retired from the old sweet shop. I have always rememered Les and his stories, in particular the one about his old mate Flt Sgt George Thompson VC.
I'm not sure for how long ZA148 had carried FS Thompsons name, XR806 being scrapped a number of years ago but I hope to be involved in the upkeep of this aircraft and the VC collection. I just wish Les could have been here to see it.

Chris

Nick Millikin

Any relation to a certain Paul Millikin of VDF fame

(IMHO) The best (along with Kev Rumens) pilot ever to display a Vulcan airframe

Cheers

Paddyboy

A fantastic post & accompanying article. Thank goodness that this particular VC-10 is being preserved. I agree with Cloudhawk... would have been criminal to scrap it!