agreement between CoW and the RAF for the stabilizers exchange.


IA inspected the agreement between CoW and The Secretary of State for the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland which was signed in June 2018 and noted:

- the stabilizers were to be picked up by the RAF at their own expense and would be transported to the RAF base to be installed on a RAF Lancaster plane

- the stabilizers from the RAF Lancaster plane would be removed and then sent to CoW in place of the originals no later than June 30, 2021


IA also inspected the Council resolution from March 23, 2016 where the stabilizers dispatch was discussed and noted:

- directions for the Executive Director of Recreation and Culture were to enter into a contract with the RAF to exchange the RAF stabilizers with CoW's with all associated cost to be borne by the RAF.
1.4 Acquire evidence that stabilizers were moved in accordance with the Council approval

IA inquired with management as to what evidence might exist to demonstrate the stabilizers for the Lancaster Bomber were moved in accordance with Council approval and that they reached their destination. Management indicated that:

- There was a Report to Council which summarized the matter and a subsequent approval/resolution for sending the stabilizers to the UK. Management had received confirmation from the RAF that the stabilizers had been received.


IA inspected the Council Report CoW Lancaster Bomber FM212 dated March 23, 2016 and noted that the Council directed the Executive Director of Recreation and Culture to enter into a contract with the UK RAF to exchange the RAF stabilizers with CoW's with all associated cost to be borne by the UK RAF.


IA inspected correspondence from UK RAF Brize Norton Base indicating that the stabilizers from the Windsor based Lancaster Bomber had been safely received at the base dated August 07, 2018.

1.5 Acquire evidence as to expected/agreed to return date of stabilizers and validate that they have been returned, if due before Dec. 31, 2019.

IA inquired with the management team regarding when stabilizers were to be returned and the management team explained that the return of the UK based Lancaster stabilizers is set for no later than June 30, 2021 as per the agreement.


IA inspected the Agreement between The CoW and The Secretary of State for the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland which was signed by the City Clerk and CAO of the CoW on June 12 and June 13 of 2018. It was also signed by Kerri Mann on behalf of the Secretary State for Defense on September 20, 2018. IA noted:

- The agreement indicates that The Secretary of State for the UK is to package and transport the UK Lancaster Stabilizers to the Canadian Historical Aircraft Association in the CoW by no later than June 30, 2021
1.6 If not returned as of Dec. 31, 2019, acquire contact 3rd party and request written confirmation of receipt, existence, good condition and expected return date. Request photos as well. IA inquired directly with the named contact at RAF Coningsby (via email) dated Dec 12, 2019 requesting confirmation of the receipt of Windsor based Lancaster stabilizers and receipt of the UK based Lancaster stabilizers expected return date.
The Senior Responsible Owner (SRO) for the Tailplanes project at RAF Coningsby, a Wing Commander, responded on Dec 16, 2019, and indicated that the Windsor Lancaster stabilizers were safely received previously and that the return timeline was still valid as per the agreement with no known concerns. The SRO indicated however that the original stabilizers from the Windsor Lancaster will be returned in the same condition as they were received instead of the those origionally planned and documented in the agreement - i.e. the stablizers to be revomed from the UK