A family from Berkshire has donated a meticulously hand-built Lancaster bomber cockpit replica to an RAF visitor centre, honoring the legacy of Leon Ellison, a retired electronics engineer who spent nearly four decades constructing it in his garden shed. Ellison, a resident of Binfield, was inspired by the 1955 film The Dam Busters as a child, sparking a lifelong fascination with the iconic World War II aircraft.
The journey of creation
Ellison dedicated approximately 20 years to researching Lancaster bombers before committing another two decades to building an exact replica of the aircraft’s flight deck by hand. After his death in June 2024 at the age of 77, his family preserved the cockpit inside a homemade hangar at his home. His son, Adrian Ellison, shared with Bracknell News that his father devoted much of his life to learning about Lancaster bombers. “He visited every single one still in existence,” Adrian said. “We thought he was mad when he started building the cockpit from scratch but he was actually a genius.”
Donation to RAF Metheringham
The family has now donated the replica to the RAF Metheringham Airfield Visitor Centre in Lincolnshire, where staff plan to transform it into a working flight simulator for visitors. The simulator will recreate the famous Dam Busters raids carried out by RAF Lancaster bombers during World War II. According to the family, Ellison had always hoped to convert the cockpit into a fully working simulator but passed away before completing the project. Most parts of the cockpit were built entirely by hand, including detailed controls and gauges. Ellison also recreated the sound of Lancaster engines using a frequency device.
Adrian described watching the cockpit being lifted out of the hangar by crane as an emotional moment. “He wanted to build this cockpit to teach others about the Lancasters and the simulator was his dream,” Adrian said. “It feels right that it will be displayed at the RAF visitor centre which was home to the Lancasters.”
Reaction from the visitor centre
Ian Brett from the visitor centre described the replica as “an absolutely fantastic piece of engineering,” as quoted by Bracknell News. The centre was once home to the 106 Squadron’s fleet of Lancaster bombers, making it a fitting location for Ellison’s creation.
The donation ensures that Ellison’s passion and craftsmanship will continue to educate and inspire future generations about the history of the Lancaster bomber and the bravery of the airmen who flew them.
