A military enthusiast who spent decades constructing an exact replica of a Lancaster Bomber cockpit in his garden shed will see his creation transformed into a state-of-the-art Dambusters simulator.
Leon Ellison's Lifelong Passion
Leon Ellison, an electronics engineer from Binfield, Berkshire, devoted his retirement to meticulously building a full-scale replica of the iconic bomber's flight deck. The project, which began in 2004, involved 20 years of research followed by another 20 years of construction. The replica includes authentic gauges, dials, and pilot controls, and even replicates the distinctive roar of the aircraft's four Rolls-Royce Merlin V12 piston engines using a frequency device to mimic take-off sounds.
Ellison's obsession with the Dam Busters began after watching the 1955 film as a child. He visited every surviving Lancaster bomber worldwide and accumulated extensive knowledge about the aircraft.
From Garden Hangar to RAF Visitor Centre
Following Ellison's death in June 2024 at the age of 77, his family donated the cockpit to the RAF Metheringham Airfield visitor centre in Lincolnshire. This airfield housed the Lancasters of 106 Squadron from November 1943 until the end of World War II. The cockpit was winched out of its homemade hangar and transported to its new home last week.
Ellison's son Adrian, 56, said his father would have been thrilled to see his cherished Lancaster Bomber 'brought to life.' Adrian recalled: 'We thought he was mad when he started building the cockpit from scratch but he was actually a genius. He wanted to build an exact replica which could be turned into a simulator so people could experience taking part in the Dambuster raids.'
The only components not crafted by Leon were the struts around the top, which were laser cut by an external company. 'Watching the cockpit fly for the first time when it was winched up by the crane was bittersweet but we are very proud,' Adrian added.
Future as a Cutting-Edge Simulator
At the visitor centre, the cockpit will be converted into a state-of-the-art simulator recreating the daring Dambusters raids over Nazi Germany in 1943. Ian Brett from the Metheringham Airfield Visitor Centre described the cockpit as 'an absolutely fantastic piece of engineering.'
Adrian, who witnessed the emotional moment with his sister Belle, 54, said it was a fitting tribute to their late father. 'He bought every book about the Dambusters and Lancasters, he made models when I was a kid, and he then built the biggest model you could build. He must have spent 20 years doing all the research, finding the original drawings and taking photographs of every Lancaster that he could get his hands on.'
Leon's dedication ensures that future generations can experience the history of the Lancaster Bomber and the bravery of the Dambusters.
