It also spearheaded the Allied strategic bombing campaign against Nazi Germany. [citation needed] In August 1942, a British-built Lancaster B.I was dispatched to Canada as a pattern aircraft, becoming the first of the type to conduct a transatlantic crossing. These provided radio direction-finding, as well as voice and Morse capabilities. .hide-if-no-js { Late on in the war, Freeman Dyson (as a 19-year-old who had yet to win a degree) put forward a case for the removal of the majority of the Lancaster's defensive armament. World War II British heavy bomber aircraft, Lancaster pilot at the controls, left, flight engineer at right, The flight engineer checks control panel from his seat, Mk.X nose with twin .303 Brownings in turret over bomb-aimer's position, Nose turret from above, and bomber aimer's station, RAF strategic bombing during the Second World War, Certified/factory-built aircraft manufactured in Canada, Radio, radar and countermeasures equipment, This aircraft carries the deepened bomb aimer blister (Mod. In 1947, one aircraft was flown non-stop 3,459mi (5,567km) from London to Bermuda. 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Peter Wheeler, from the New Zealand Bomber Command Association, says the aircraft, on display at MOTAT in Auckland's Western Springs, "is a point for everyone to recognise the efforts of the people who put all their families aside and went to war and did what was asked of them". [35], The mid-upper (dorsal or top) turret was an FN-50[35][36] on early examples and the very similar FN-150 with improved sights and controls[35] on later examples. RAF Hendon's Richard Simpson said: "The Lancaster is an iconic plane and this one is particularly important. [13][14] As a result, only 200 were constructed and the type was withdrawn from service in 1942. The Elsan chemical toilet, a type of aircraft lavatory, was located near the spars for the tailplane. Throughout the 1950s, the RCAF operated seventy modified Lancasters, designated Lancaster 10MR/MPs, as Maritime Reconnaissance and Patrol aircraft in an anti-submarine role. While not optimal, the Lancaster was capable of flying the return journey home on only two operational engines, along with very limited distances on a single running engine. [6], In the 1930s, the Royal Air Force (RAF) was primarily interested in twin-engine bombers. [127], Between 1948 and 1949, 15 former RAF Lancasters were overhauled at Langar for use by the Argentine Air Force. timeout The mid-upper turret was removed and a more bulbous bomb aimer's blister was fitted; this, as "Mod. [11], Avro submitted the Avro 679 to fulfil Specification P.13/36 and, in February 1937, Avro's submission was selected, along with Handley Page's bid as a backup. The cockpit of S-Sugar, the oldest surviving Lancaster. During World War II the Lancaster was the most successful bomber used by the Royal Air Force and the Royal Canadian Air Force.The Lanc had speed, ceiling, and lifting power that no other aircraft of the day could match. On his left was a window, and above him was the astrodome, used for visual signalling and by the navigator for celestial navigation. The FN-20 was replaced by the very similar FN-120 which used an improved gyroscopic gun sight (GGS). The Avro Lancaster is a British Second World War heavy bomber. R5620, flown by Pilot Officer J R Farrow and his crew, was the only aircraft to be lost by the Squadron that night. ", "A History of Navigation in the Royal Air Force", "ROYAL AIR FORCE BOMBER COMMAND, 19421945. Wars. While some groups chose to discard the position entirely, various trials and experiments were performed at RAF Duxford, Cambridgeshire and by individual squadrons. 2010 August 08: Interior walk-thru of the Mynarski Memorial Lancaster bomber, VR-A # KB726 of the Royal Canadian Air Force 419 "Moose" Squadron.The Lancaster. The flight engineer sat on a collapsible seat (known as a "second dicky seat") to the pilot's right, with the fuel selectors and gauges on a panel behind him and to his right. Saying all this, I had the honour and privilege of being allowed close up and personal with a Lancaster today, as well as being allowed inside that very same aircraft. [94], During April 1944, key targets in France included railway hubs in Villeneuve, Rouen, and Juvisy. Bomb Run Times. This was the main entrance to the aircraft, and also could be used as an emergency exit. 1. It was hard to believe that crew could move around and operate in the fuselage - a confined dark environment- let alone wear leather flying suits and carry portable oxygen. The figures given are the most common. [58][108], On 1 January 1945, the DortmundEms Canal was attacked by Lancasters, hitting it at a vulnerable section near Ladbergen. [28], The Lancaster benefited from a structure that possessed considerable strength and durability, which had been intentionally designed to maximise structural strength-per-weight; this resulted in the Lancaster being capable of withstanding some levels of damage resulting from attacks by hostile interceptor aircraft and ground-based anti-aircraft batteries. [13][17], Avro received an initial contract for 1,070 Lancasters. [76], On 15 April, Stuttgart was raided by a large force of Lancasters; on the following day, Plze was similarly struck, although much of the intended attack upon the koda Works was unintentionally directed towards a large asylum instead; other targets that month included Stettin, Duisburg, and the Ruhr. [118], Civil conversions of the type continued during the initial postwar years. The fact that Mr. Groom built the . The FN-121 was the Automatic Gun Laying Turret (AGLT), an FN-120 fitted with Village Inn gun-laying radar. [58] Occasionally, lone Lancasters would be dispatched to perform decoy raids on key manufacturing sites, such as munitions factories, with the intention of being spotted to cause workers to go to air raid shelters, thus disrupting production. [123] RAF Coastal Command received a small number of grey-painted Lancaster MR.1s, which were normally based at RAF Kinloss, Moray Firth. In total, the Lancaster has a 33-foot-long Bombay and was capable of carrying a 14,000 bomb load at a speed of 200 miles per hour. Many crew members from Lancasters were awarded the Victoria Cross for their heroic actions in battle, a notable example being the two awarded after a daring daytime raid on Augsburg, Germany. [22] In response to feedback on the lack of application for the ventral turret, the ventral turret was often eliminated during the course of each aircraft's career. [118], Prior to the decision to carry out extensive modifications under Silverplate to the Boeing B-29 Superfortress to allow it to deliver atomic bombs over Japan, serious consideration was given to using the Lancaster with its cavernous bomb bay instead. Squadron and Units. Starting at the nose, the bomb aimer had two positions to man. Click on pop up icons to see archival photos, watch videos, hear audio recordings, and uncover the stories behind one of the most famous bombers of . [93] In March 1944, the Berlin raids were somewhat lessened as a compromise, Bomber Command having been directed to destroy enemy communications and other targets around France and the Low Countries ahead of the Normandy landings on D-Day. [130], Immediately following the end of hostilities, the Lancaster was used without any major modifications as a transport aircraft, being used to ferry thousands of prisoners of war (POWs) back to the British Isles from across the continent. The famous Bathtub key was afixed to the bench on the right (bit of a . As well as direct hits on very strong or durable targets (such as submarine pens) it could be used indirectly to create a. Please reload the CAPTCHA. [105], Throughout the latter half of 1944, a series of high-profile bombing missions were performed by the Lancaster against the German battleshipTirpitz. Dec 4, 2008. Of the 17 surviving and largely intact Lancasters known to exist, two are airworthy; one, PA474, based at Coningsby (in Lincolnshire, UK), is operated by The Battle of Britain Memorial Flight, and the other, named Vera (coded VR-A, FM213), is in Canada, operated by the Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum in Mount Hope, a suburb of Hamilton, Ontario. Avro Lancaster by Jeroen Veen (Tamiya . [155], Data from Avro Aircraft since 1908,[156] The Secret Years: Flight Testing at Boscombe Down 19391945,[140] The Avro Lancaster I: Aircraft in Profile Number 65[37]. His position allowed a 360 view over the top of the aircraft, with two Browning .303 Mark IIs to protect the aircraft from above and to the side. Upon completion of their tour, the crew would normally be broken up and rested by being assigned to various Conversion or other non-operational units as instructors. In 1964 the aircraft was gifted to New Zealand and arrived in Whenuapai before being towed down Great North Rd to Western Springs and put on display. The inaugural flight from Dorval (Montreal) to Prestwick, Scotland on 22 July 1943, was completed non-stop in a record 12:26 hours; the average crossing time was about 13:25 hours. Mantelli, Brown, Kittel and Graf 2017, pp. A full-size replica of a Lancaster bomber cockpit that was painstakingly made by a history buff has emerged for sale for 150,000. It was designed and manufactured by Avro as a contemporary of the Handley Page Halifax, both bombers having been developed to the same specification, as well as the Short Stirling, all three aircraft being four-engined heavy bombers adopted by the Royal Air Force (RAF) during the same wartime era. Slam-dunk Lancaster bombers often had their already-large bomb bays modified in order to carry the monumental 10,000 kilogram Grand Slam earthquake bombs. Video first published in April 2017. In addition, four Lancaster IIIs were converted by Flight Refuelling Limited as two pairs of tanker and receiver aircraft for the development of in-flight refuelling. Live from Lincs Aviation Heritage Centre featuring Lancaster NX-611 'Just Jane'https://www.lincsaviation.co.uk/---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------It's easy to watch the FREEVIEW shows simply subscribe to our dedicated channel via the website www.bigjet.tv just hit the FREEVIEW button To enjoy exclusive all-elite shows, join the Aviation Elite and join us on exclusive shows like our Euro Tours, Feature shows as well as get the full 2hr plus main shows. The weight in kilograms of the "Tall Boy" and "Grand Slam" bombs differs according to their source. One of the most famous parts of the Lancasters heritage is its role in carrying and releasing the bouncing bomb payload, as glamorized in the 1955 film The Dam Busters. [22] A total of 50 Austin-built Lancaster B.Is was constructed to a non-standard configuration, having a Frazer Nash turret installed directly above the bomb bay; however, this modification was largely unpopular due to its obstruction of the internal walkway, hindering crew movements. [58], On 17 April 1942, 12 Lancasters of No. [128], Beginning in 1946, Lancaster Mk Xs were modified for service with the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF). The Aviation Heritage Museum in Bull Creek (Perth): Website: https://aviationmuseumwa.org.auDetails about the Lancaster tour: https://aviationmuseumwa.org.au/tours-and-experiences/lancaster-tour/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aviationheritagemuseum Other videos: Lockheed F-22 Raptor: https://youtu.be/l4y71pDy8t0 Boeing B-47 Stratojet: https://youtu.be/DPf40OW5Z0AF-14 Tomcat: https://youtu.be/WCDieiDmaOI F-117 Nighthawk: https://youtu.be/KTCP1_0AkxQ NASA Shuttle Carrier Aircraft 747-100: https://youtu.be/pkwt594wn5USpace Shuttle Orbiter: https://youtu.be/2VpWxFNfUogHughes H-4 Hercules Spruce Goose: https://youtu.be/zwniLHX-KTc Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress: https://youtu.be/h4_ESnENDfIBoeing B-29 Superfortress: https://youtu.be/6TcTDd2v090 Convair B-36 Peacemaker: https://youtu.be/bvM0usMCQkg North American XB-70 Valkryie: https://youtu.be/O8GvQ_N_lLkNorth American X-15: https://youtu.be/YGN3b3usw5Q BAC Concorde: https://youtu.be/Dy1tRQ8BKwQ Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird: https://youtu.be/McR124aLTnA Northrop Grumman B-2 Spirit: https://youtu.be/xEPs9izdDJA Grumman F-14 Tomcat: https://youtu.be/WCDieiDmaOI Tour through an AVRO Lancaster bomber: https://youtu.be/5gk6hEJ0vO0Tour through a QANTAS Boeing 747-200B: https://youtu.be/E7mCtl_uJ1sTour through a QANTAS Boeing 707-138: https://youtu.be/QI4TN9xJtxUTour through a QANTAS Lockheed Super Constellation: https://youtu.be/sd5xujtsOloTour through the first ever Boeing 747 in Seattle: https://youtu.be/boGbjkx3_7c Tour through a Douglas DC-3: https://youtu.be/dUB4pjG2GVUTour through a USAF Boeing B-52: https://youtu.be/wLCuiRtolpM USAF/RAAF General Dynamics F-111: https://youtu.be/CTb8JYWyBe4 RAAF CAC Avon Sabre: https://youtu.be/Tmgblwv0g8o RAAC CAC Dassault Mirage III: https://youtu.be/XcfR4G5NRmw 100 years of QANTAS aircraft on display at the Qantas Founders Museum: https://youtu.be/qyPVGTplh2QTour through the first ever Boeing 747 in Seattle: https://youtu.be/boGbjkx3_7c Tour through Concorde: https://youtu.be/bfHEevrtog0 Tour through a VC-137B - Air Force One: https://youtu.be/yfLqNI0jaco Onboard the LAST EVER Qantas Boeing 747 flight in Canberra: https://youtu.be/EyuoX3tDWGw Tour through a DeHavilland Comet 4 at the Duxford IMW: https://youtu.be/lppTTfzV3GU Tour through the Museum of Flight in Seattle: https://youtu.be/vYurfrYAmbU#avrolancaster #aviation #lancasterbomberTour through the American Air Museum in Duxford: https://youtu.be/Wk68LRlKgiU Tour through the Imperial War Museum in Duxford: https://youtu.be/lMwi3cka-j0Other general videos: Last Ever Qantas Boeing 747 flight in Canberra: https://youtu.be/EyuoX3tDWGw Goodbye to the Qantas Boeing 747: https://youtu.be/9KakKVYHaVw Qantas 717 Hobart to Sydney: https://youtu.be/ugRi5EWTL9sJetstar A320 Melbourne to Sydney during covid: https://youtu.be/XGHL1EYY_JE Qantas Link Dash 8 Q300 Port Mac to Sydney: https://youtu.be/f4E6CzHK4p4Qantas Link Dash 8 Q400 Sydney to Port Mac: https://youtu.be/kuywEdAcWxcI have two Youtube channels: Paul Stewart (aviation travel vlogs): https://www.youtube.com/c/paulstewartaviationPaul Stewart EXTRA (unedited inflight aviation footage): https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCPnnXfUeUOKYUs5K_Ve1icg Check out my Instagram account: @paulstewartaviation ( https://www.instagram.com/paulstewartaviation/ ) and Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/paulstewartaviation/ If you enjoy this videos and want to see more, you can send me a donation via Paypal :) https://paypal.me/paulstewartaviation0:00 Intro0:37 overview1:06 Rolls Royce V12 Merlins1:28 landing gear1:53 bombay and bombs3:50 wings4:16 twin tail design5:14 Upkeep bouncing bomb6:16 head inside6:35 inflight toilet6:45 rear gunner's position8:28 heating system8:56 chute + window 9:42 magnetic compas9:52 ammunition tracks10:20 mid-upper gunner's turret11:05 sick bay12:02 radio operator's position12:54 navigator's position13:56 flight engineer14:01 pilot16:10 bomb aimer17:07 survival statistics18:52 H2S ground radar19:20 forward turret 19:44 nose art In addition, No. The "Lanc", as it was known colloquially,[3] became one of the most heavily used of the Second World War night bombers, "delivering 608,612 long tons (618,378,000kg) of bombs in 156,000 sorties". One of the most important RAF targets was the destruction of the Ruhr dams that supplied important industrial installations with power. Aircraft intended to carry the "Grand Slam" required extensive modifications. Lancaster bomber parts. [48][49], After the 'Dam Busters' raid 617 Squadron was converted to a high-altitude precision bombing squadron in preparation for the arrival of Barnes Wallis's forthcoming Earthquake bombs for attacking special and hardened targets, and while they were training for this the bouncing bomb variants of B.I Specials had the spars and equipment removed and were then modified to carry the 21ft (6.4m) long 12,000lb (5,400kg) "Tallboy" bomb, a scaled-down version of the upcoming 25.5ft (7.8m) long 22,000lb (10,000kg) "Grand Slam" "earthquake" bombs which were still being built. [28] Compared with other contemporary aircraft, the Lancaster was not an easy aircraft to escape from as its escape hatch was only 22in 26.5in (56cm 67cm) in size; in a Halifax or Stirling (which both had an escape hatch 2in (5.1cm) wider), 25 per cent of downed aircrew bailed out successfully, and in American bombers (albeit in daylight raids) it was as high as a 50 per cent success rate while only 15 per cent of the Lancaster crew were able to bail out. [98][99], On 14 June, the first large-scale daylight bombing raid since 1942 was conducted using Lancasters against enemy shipping at the harbours of Le Harve and Boulogne. [123], The Lancaster remained at the forefront of RAF Bomber Command while the Lancaster B.I was gradually replaced by the improved Lancaster B.I (F/E) and B.VII (F/E) models. Join me in his detailed tour through a retired Avro Lancaster bomber. [66][67] That same night, 12 Lancasters of No. Lancaster bomber project still four years away from completion. Before the end of the war Lancasters built in the UK standardised on the FN-82 fitted with two .50in (13mm) machine guns and a gun-laying radar as production allowed, which was also used on early models of the Avro Lincoln. It was also armed with 8.303-inch caliber Browning machine guns across three hydraulically powered turrets. 97 Squadron, which was also based at Waddington. Lancasters had the nose section for a bombardier painted with matt black.The rest was of the Interior Green. It was not uncommon for a rested crew member to volunteer for a second bomber tour. The plane was powered by four Rolls-Royce Merlin XXV12 liquid-cooled piston engines that drive three-bladed propeller units. Mining of ports, canals, rivers and seaways. The RAF's elite 617 Squadron, nicknamed the Dambusters, flew 19 Lancaster bombers into Nazi Germany and destroyed two Ruhr valley dams with their revolutionary "bouncing bombs". Nine of these aircraft were produced, referred to as Lancaster XPPs (for Lancaster Mk.X Passenger Planes), and each was equipped with rudimentary passenger facilities. The Avro Lancaster went on to become the most important British heavy bomber or World War 2. As it was quickly recognised that Avro's capacity was exceeded by the wartime demand for the type, it was decided to form the Lancaster Aircraft Group, which comprised a number of companies that undertook the type's manufacture, either performing primary assembly themselves or producing various subsections and components for the other participating manufacturers. + The crew comprised a bomb aimer, who lay in the nose of the plane, the pilot, who sat behind and above him, with a flight engineer on a collapsible "dicky" seat to his right. The . On 27 April, an unsuccessful small-scale attack on Tirpitz was performed by Lancasters of both No. [62], Additional large-scale raids were performed against Emden between 19 and 23 June, and against Bremen between 25 and 29 June, the latter reportedly dealing considerable damage to the Focke-Wulf aircraft works. The B.I and B.III designations were effectively interchangeable simply by changing the engines used, which was occasionally done in practice. In this video, our expert tells us why the Lancaster Bomber played such a crucial role in WW2. [citation needed], An important feature of the Lancaster was its unobstructed 33ft (10m) long bomb bay. [58] Losses were avoided by measures such as flying beneath German radar cover, aerial reconnaissance along the intended route, and the strict observation of secrecy. In some later variants of the Lancaster the twin 7.7mm machine guns were replaced with 12.7mm models, which . We takes a look inside an Avro Lancaster to see made it so successful. How much of a challenge was it to build Lancasters in the quantities required? [29], The Lancaster uses a mid-wing cantilever monoplane configuration. Some Lancaster B.I bombers were outfitted with bulged bomb bay doors in order to accommodate increased armament payloads. [91], In late 1943, Air Chief Marshal Harris advocated to Churchill for the persistent bombing of Berlin in preference to earlier targets such as the Ruhr. [97] In May and June, extensive operations were flown against the fortifications of the Atlantic Wall. She is 69ft 6in long, 19ft 7in high, has a. wingspan of 102ft and was powered by four. A drive belt and pulley to rotate the bomb at 500 rpm was mounted on the starboard strut and driven by a hydraulic motor housed in the forward fairing. 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