Did an Avro Lancaster bomber land and take off from Cowley airfield in Oxford during the Second World War?

Most definitely yes, according to Colin Judge, who lived in White Road, Cowley, at the time.

Doug Buckingham, of Boswell Road, Cowley, recalled seeing a Lancaster on the airfield in 1945 (Memory Lane, November 13), but friends doubted there was room for it to land and take off.

Mr Judge, now of Parklands, Freeland, writes: "My father, Stan, worked in the experimental department at Morris Motors during the war and told me, when I was very young, that a Lancaster landed with engine trouble.

"It was later stripped of all non-essential parts and took off towards the Dodgson Road/Bartholomew Road end of the airfield.

"The tail was tied down with a steel hawser and the engines revved to full power with just two crew on board, then the hawser was released or cut.

"The aircraft supposedly just cleared the first house in the road, with only feet to spare."

Mr Buckingham told us he had spoken to one of the Lancaster crew, who explained that they had "dropped in" to collect spares.

He wrote: "Being interested, I asked him if they would have difficulty taking off from such a short runway and he said they had no problems landing, so taking off would be a piece of cake'.

"Although I did not see it land or take off, all I know is that it was there at 12.10pm and was nowhere on the airfield at 5.10pm."

Mr Buckingham revealed that he had a small wager on a Lancaster having landed at Cowley - it looks as if he has won!

More memories of Cowley airfield soon.