Some Interesting Facts - Random interesting facts from the World. Unit. [26], The Lancaster B.III was powered by Packard Merlin engines, which had been built overseas in the United States, but was otherwise identical to contemporary B.Is. [citation needed], The Lancaster conducted a total of 156,000 sorties and dropped 608,612 long tons (618,378,000kg) of bombs between 1942 and 1945. The Lancaster bomber is a machine built with economics and brutal efficiency in mind. MOTAT's Lancaster is currently been assessed by two aircraft engineers who have concluded itneeds repair work done to the structure attaching the outer starboard wing and a number of other areas. Despite eight of the Lancasters being lost during the operation, as well as the lives of 53 crew, a small number of bouncing bombs were released and they caused two dams to be breached, one to be heavily damaged and 1,296 civilians to be killed. 83 Squadron RAF, leads the queue of aircraft waiting to take off from Scampton, Lincolnshire, on the 'Thousand-Bomber' raid to Bremen, Nazi Germany. The Second World War was an absolutely fascinating time for military aviation technology. "It's an icon that people can relate to.". [90] In October, the widespread bombing of numerous German cities took place, targeting Munich, Kassel, Frankfurt, Offenbach, Ludwigshafen, Stuttgart, Friedrichshafen, and Leipzig, along with other targets. A long, unobstructed bomb bay meant that the Lancaster could take the largest bombs used by the RAF, including the 4,000lb (1,800kg), 8,000lb (3,600kg) and 12,000lb (5,400kg) blockbusters, loads often supplemented with smaller bombs or incendiaries. [111][117] The mission was named 'Operation Manna' after the food manna which is said to have miraculously appeared for the Israelites in the Book of Exodus. Merlin 1,280hp engines. With its encyclopedic detail and commanding narration by Charles Dance, this feels . Lyzun, Jim, "From Warhorse to Workhorse: Lancaster Mk.10 Variants in Canada". Because each dam was a different width between the towers, each plane carried two or three different sights. Most of these engines were still under development and while four-engined bomber designs were considered for specification B.12/36 for a heavy bomber, the extra engines required the wing and overall aircraft structure to be stronger, increasing the structural weight. 617 and 9 Sqns, a combination of Lancaster B.I and B.III bombers were armed with Tallboy bombs and were adapted with enlarged bomb bay doors in order to accommodate their special payloads and additional fuel tanks to provide the necessary endurance. On his left was a window, and above him was the astrodome, used for visual signalling and by the navigator for celestial navigation. 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". 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. It has been carefully restored from a vandalised state and is now a main tourist attraction. In a dive, it had a tendency to go more deeply into the dive as speed increased. [30] The distinctive tail unit of the aircraft was outfitted with a large twin elliptical fins and rudder arrangement. The Lancaster in combat carried sevencrew and during WWIIthe oldest crew member, probably the pilot, would have been 21. Very strong or durable structures (e.g. })(120000); [64], A major improvement to night-time bombing came with the implementation of the Pathfinder Force (PFF) in August 1942, multiple squadrons were transferred from Bomber Command groups to constitute the new unit. The British Avro Lancaster was a heavy bomber that was mainly used as a nighttime bomber during World War II. [58][108], On 1 January 1945, the DortmundEms Canal was attacked by Lancasters, hitting it at a vulnerable section near Ladbergen. The figures given are the most common. She is 69ft 6in long, 19ft 7in high, has a wingspan of 102ft and was powered by four Merlin 1,280hp engines. An emphasis was placed upon aiding the Battle of the Atlantic by hindering the German Navy. The green is very shiny and does not look right. Here he recounts that experience. The Lancaster became a British icon of the conflict, and to this day, one is still flown by the RAF. [35] The Mk.VII and late Mk.X Lancasters used the heavier, electrically-controlled Martin 250 CE 23A turret equipped with two .50in (13mm) machine guns[35] which was mounted further forward to preserve the aircraft's longitudinal balance, and because it had an internal mechanism to prevent firing on the aircraft itself, it did not require a coaming. Stuff visual journalist Jason Dorday was given a rare glimpse inside a Lancaster bomber at Auckland's Museum of Transport and Technology. It was installed in a small number of Lancasters but never became common. [74] The first radial engined Lancasters were also introduced to service during January, alongside some new bombing aids. [5][note 6], Specific bomb loads were standardised and given code names by Bomber Command:[50], Bombsights used on Lancasters included:[51]. The disadvantage of all radar and radio transmitting systems is that attacking forces can locate aircraft by picking up transmissions. The mid-upper turret was removed and a more bulbous bomb aimer's blister was fitted; this, as "Mod. Crew Due to its large size, hefty armament and technical complexity, the Lancaster bomber had a crew of seven. Inside palace 'Putin shares with gymnast lover and secret children' Watch video . It's the oldest, and has the greatest operational history.". var notice = document.getElementById("cptch_time_limit_notice_91"); Busted A selection of bombers became famous after Operation Chastise, a mission to destroy dams in the Ruhr Valley, which inspired The Dam Busters. What Was The Maximum Weight Of The Bombs The Lancaster Bomber Could Carry? He could then exit through the rear entrance door. We are no longer accepting comments on this article. . In some later variants of the Lancaster the twin 7.7mm machine guns were replaced with 12.7mm models, which delivered more power. 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. [45][note 5] The bomb bay doors were removed and the ends of the bomb bay were covered with fairings. During early 1942, No. if ( notice ) [125], Avro overhauled 59 Lancaster B.Is and B.VIIs at Woodford and Langar which were delivered to the French Aronavale during 1952/53,[126] which were flown until the mid-1960s by four squadrons stationed in France and New Caledonia in the maritime reconnaissance and search-and-rescue roles. function() { [83] On the night of 27 July, 787 RAF aircraft, comprising 74 Vickers Wellingtons, 116 Short Stirlings, 244 Handley Page Halifaxes and 353 Avro Lancasters, bombed the city. [77], Perhaps the most famous single mission performed by the Lancaster was flown on 1617 May 1943, codenamed Operation Chastise, to destroy the dams of the Ruhr Valley. [72], Throughout 1942, the Lancaster remained in relatively short supply; consequently, both training and crew conversion courses typically had to be performed by the squadrons themselves; there were no aircraft furnished with dual controls at this time, and pilots would therefore have to perform their first flight without their instructors being capable of directly acting on the controls themselves. The aircraft used were modified Avro Lancaster Mk IIIs, which had much of their armour and central turret removed in order to accommodate the payload. . Norman Groom, 85, spent thousands of hours over six years . 94,468. The Avro Lancaster is the most famous and successful RAF heavy bomber of World War Two. [61] By this point, the number of Lancasters in operational service had surpassed those of the preceding Manchester. The Lancaster was the most popular night-time bomber used by the Royal Air Force for its air raids. The mid-upper gunner sat on a rectangle of canvas that was slung beneath the turret and would stay in position throughout the flight. 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. [75] On 28 February, 86 Lancasters attacked the occupied French city of Saint-Nazaire; the next day, 79 Lancasters bombed Berlin. We place guests enjoying a ride in a variety of positions inside including the rear rurret; Middle Turret; Radio Operator's seat; and Bomb aimer's position. Most British-built Lancasters were fitted with the R1155 receiver and T1154 transmitter, whereas the Canadian-built aircraft and those built for service in the Far East had American radios. Amongst the final wartime operations performed by the Lancaster was the Bombing of Obersalzberg, aimed at the destruction of Eagle's Nest, the extensive holiday home complex used by German leader Adolf Hitler. [60], On the night of 30/31 May 1942, the Lancaster participated in Operation Millenium, the first 1,000 bomber raid against the German city of Cologne. The transparencies were difficult to see through at night, particularly when trying to keep watch for enemy night fighters that appeared without notice astern and below the aircraft when getting into position to open fire. The cockpit of S-Sugar, the oldest surviving Lancaster. Christopher said . [13] L7527, The first production Lancaster made its first flight in October 1941, powered by Merlin XX engines. Both the United States and the Soviet Union were pursuing the development of bombers powered by arrangements of four smaller engines; the results of these projects proved to possess favourable characteristics such as excellent range and fair lifting capacity. The Lancaster also carried a variety of smaller weapons, including the Small Bomb Container (SBC) which held 236 4lb (1.8kg) or 24 30lb (14kg) incendiary and explosive incendiary bomblets; 500lb (230kg) and 1,000lb (450kg) General Purpose High Explosive (GP/HE) bombs (these came in a variety of designs); 1,850lb (840kg) parachute deployed magnetic or acoustic mines, or 2,000lb (910kg) armour-piercing (AP) bombs; 250lb (110kg) Semi-Armour-Piercing (SAP) bombs, used up to 1942 against submarines; post-1942: 250lb (110kg) or 500lb (230kg) anti-submarine depth charges. 617 Sqn was perhaps the most famous of all Lancaster squadrons. [69], In late October 1942, the first Lancaster bombing missions over Italy were performed; on 22 and 23, the cities of Genoa and Turin were struck at night-time. In March 1946, a Lancastrian of BSAA flew the first scheduled flight from the new London Heathrow Airport. A high-wing monoplane with a twin tail and tricycle landing gear, it was powered by two 1,700-horsepower Wright radial engines, had a wingspan of 67 feet 7 inches (20.6 metres), was 53 feet 6 inches (16 . Poland. [120] Goulding and Garbett wrote that: "The achievements of the Lancaster and the men who flew it have been widely acclaimed, and the aircraft has been described as the greatest single factor in winning WWII, an exaggeration but a pardonable one". 115 Squadron RAF. 2023 - Some Interesting Facts. timeout Although a capable aircraft, the Manchester was underpowered and its Vulture engines proved to be unreliable. High calibre While 7.7mm machine guns were standard on Lancaster bombers, selective later variants were fitted with twin 12.7mm turrets in both tail and dorsal positions. 44 and No. One of these was the Avro Lincoln bomber, initially designated Lancaster IV and Lancaster V which became the Lincoln B.1 and B.2 respectively. Nicholas Stephen Alkemade (10 December 1922 - 22 June 1987) was a British tail gunner in the Royal Air Force during World War II who survived a freefall of 18,000 feet (5,490 m) without a parachute after abandoning his out-of-control, burning Avro Lancaster heavy bomber over Germany. She is 69ft 6in long, 19ft 7in high, has a. wingspan of 102ft and was powered by four. Jun 19, 2005. Due to the weight, the ammunition was stored in tanks situated near the mid-upper turret's position and fed rearward in runways down the back of the fuselage to the turret. [102] On 24 August, eight Tallboys were dropped in a daylight attack on the U-boat pens at IJmuiden, two direct hits were recorded. When the Luftwaffe began using Schrge Musik to make attacks from below in the winter of 1943/1944, modifications were made, including downward observation blisters mounted behind the bomb aimer's blister[40] and official[41] and unofficial mounts for .50in (12.7mm) machine guns or even 20mm (0.79in) cannon, firing through the ventral holes of the removed FN-64. In 1946, four Lancasters were converted by Avro at Bracebridge Heath, Lincolnshire as freighters for use by British South American Airways, but proved to be uneconomical, and were withdrawn after a year in service. 6 This carries a high-velocity Flare that is dropped at the same time as the Bombs to Photograph and record the Bomb Strike. [106][107] Executed by Nos. A Lancaster bomber crew recorded during a raid. After years of putting a Humpty-Dumpty of a plane back together again, the Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum Avro Lancaster was finally ready for its maiden flight on Sept. 24, 1988. The introduction of the Heinkel He 219 and Messerschmitt Me 262 night fighters erased any speed advantage and would have left the aircraft undefended. [100] These daylight raids quickly became frequent as, due to a shortage of oil, the Luftwaffe were increasingly incapable of mounting opposition; to further this difficulty for their opponent, Lancasters were directed against numerous oil installations. Lancaster PA474 was built at the Vickers Armstrong Broughton factory at Hawarden Airfield, Chester on 31 May 1945, just after VE day. CH18371", "Avro 683 Lancaster: The most iconic heavy bomber of World War II", "RAF BBMF to host Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum Lancaster during visit to England. He argued that this would reduce the loss rate by increasing the Lancaster's cruising speed by up to 50mph (80km/h) (assuming the bomb load was not increased), making the bomber harder to intercept. On 12 June, the first use of the type by RAF Coastal Command, having loaned aircraft from RAF Bomber Command, commenced; it was used to conduct long range anti-U-boat operations, reportedly attacking two on 15 June. Weighing 36,900 lb empty (or 16,738 kg), it was able to haul an additional 33,100 lb (or 15,014 kg) in fuel and bombs. Inside a Lancaster, with a radio operator in the foreground and navigator beyond. I mistakenly painted my first Lancaster (dam buster) in Tamiya British Green along with the correct dark earth and matt black. The Lancaster bomber that was in Edmundston for 50 years is being restored in Ontario at the National Air Force Museum of Canada, where it will eventually be on display in 2024. . 5 Group, the bombing of the Schneider Works at Le Creusot, France; only a single aircraft, W4774, was lost during the course of the mission. [118] During 19471948, No. It also spearheaded the Allied strategic bombing campaign against Nazi Germany. 3 . In April 1937, a pair of prototypes for each design was ordered. Squadron's and Units Equipped With Lancaster's. Tiger Force Lancaster Squadrons. [citation needed], Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era. By the last full month of war-time operations (April 1945) the dominance of the Lancaster within Bomber Command reached its peak, no fewer than 56 Squadrons being equipped with the type. In order to cope with the higher attrition rate from these operations, a three-fold increase in production was enacted. [39] However this neglects the fact that the two main Luftwaffe night fighters of the time, the Messerschmitt Bf 110 and the Junkers Ju 88 night fighters were capable of over 300mph (480km/h), thus a 50mph (80km/h) increase over the Lancaster's normal cruising speed of around 180mph (290km/h), giving a speed of 230mph (370km/h), still left the Lancaster vulnerable to interception. With a wingspan of 102 feet and four Rolls-Royce Merlin V-12 engin. . Lancasters were later used to test other engines, including the Armstrong Siddeley Mamba and Rolls-Royce Dart turboprops and the Avro Canada Orenda and STAL Dovern turbojets. The FN-121 was the Automatic Gun Laying Turret (AGLT), an FN-120 fitted with Village Inn gun-laying radar. In 2014, the Canadian aircraft toured the UK in a series of joint displays with the BBMF aircraft. 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