Lancaster Bomber Approaching
The Avro Lancaster is the most famous and successful RAF heavy bomber of World War II A total of 7,377 were built between 1941 and early 1946. Of these, some 3,500 were lost on operations and another 200 or so were destroyed or written off in crashes.
The performance of the Lancaster was simply outstanding. It could carry a maximum bomb load of 22,000 lb, its maximum level speed with a full load at 15,000 feet was 275 mph and it could cruise routinely at altitudes above 20,000ft at a range speed of 200 mph. With a full bomb load the aircraft had a range in excess of 1,500 miles.
PA474 is one of only two Lancaster aircraft remaining in airworthy condition, the other is in Canada with the Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum at Hamilton, Ontario. PA474 rolled off the production line at the Vickers Armstrong Broughton factory at Hawarden Airfield, Chester on 31 May 1945, just after the war in Europe came to an end, so she was prepared for use against the Japanese as part of the ‘Tiger Force’. However, the war in the Far East also ended before she was deployed and she did not take part in any hostilities.
After a period in storage, PA474 was converted for photo-reconnaissance work; modifications for these duties included being stripped back to a bare metal (silver) finish and the removal of all her gun turrets. She was then assigned to aerial survey duties with No 82 Squadron in East and South Africa from September 1948 until February 1952.
On return to the UK, PA474 was loaned to Flight Refuelling Ltd at Tarrant Rushton to be used as a pilotless drone, an uncertain future, which would likely have led to her loss. Fortunately, before the conversion started, the Air Ministry decided to use a Lincoln for the drone programme and PA474 was reprieved. She was then transferred to the Royal College of Aeronautics at Cranfield where she was used as a trial platform for the testing of various experimental aerofoil sections between 1954 and 1964; the trial wings being mounted vertically on the upper rear fuselage.
In 1964 PA474 was adopted by the Air Historical Branch with a view to putting the aircraft on display as a static exhibit in the proposed RAF Museum at Hendon. She was flown to Wroughton where she was painted in a camouflage paint scheme, though without squadron markings, and it was during this period that the aircraft took part in two films, ‘Operation Crossbow’ and ‘The Guns of Navarone’.
Later in 1964, she was moved to RAF Henlow and grounded in preparation for display at the RAF Museum. In 1965, Wg Cdr D’Arcy, the CO of 44 Squadron (then flying Vulcans at RAF Waddington) asked permission for PA474 to be transferred into the care of the Squadron. An inspection found that the aircraft was structurally sound so permission was granted for PA474 to make a single flight from Henlow to Waddington, which it completed in August 1965.
At Waddington a restoration programme began on the Lancaster and by 1966 work was progressing well with both the front and rear turrets in place. Permission to fly PA474 regularly was granted in 1967, whilst restoration continued.
The Lancaster joined the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight in November 1973 and restoration work on various parts of the aircraft has continued ever since. A mid-upper turret was discovered in Argentina and was brought to Britain aboard HMS Hampshire; it was fitted to PA474 in 1975. In the same year, the aircraft was adopted by the City of Lincoln, permission being granted for her to display the City’s coat of arms, which will always be displayed on PA474 regardless of what colour scheme she wears.
For a period PA474 wore the markings of Lancaster EE139 the ‘Phantom of the Ruhr’, with the aircraft’s No 100 Squadron code letters ’HW-R’ on the port side, and the 550 Squadron codes ‘BQ-B on the starboard side. EE139 was one of only 35 Lancasters that completed more than 100 operational missions – the ‘Centurions’ or ‘Ton-up Lancs’ – most were lost long before achieving such a milestone.
However, here she is seen wearing the KC-A markings of 617 Squadron and the Thumper Mk III nose art, originally painted by Flt Lt Bob Knights upon his posting to 617 Squadron. She displays the markings of bombs for operations over Germany, ice-cream cones for operations over Italy, and poppies for when she has released poppies during exhibition flights.
Seen whilst conducting a fly-past during the Shuttleworth Collection's 50th Anniversary Air Show in 2013.
Lancaster Bomber Approaching
The Avro Lancaster is the most famous and successful RAF heavy bomber of World War II A total of 7,377 were built between 1941 and early 1946. Of these, some 3,500 were lost on operations and another 200 or so were destroyed or written off in crashes.
The performance of the Lancaster was simply outstanding. It could carry a maximum bomb load of 22,000 lb, its maximum level speed with a full load at 15,000 feet was 275 mph and it could cruise routinely at altitudes above 20,000ft at a range speed of 200 mph. With a full bomb load the aircraft had a range in excess of 1,500 miles.
PA474 is one of only two Lancaster aircraft remaining in airworthy condition, the other is in Canada with the Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum at Hamilton, Ontario. PA474 rolled off the production line at the Vickers Armstrong Broughton factory at Hawarden Airfield, Chester on 31 May 1945, just after the war in Europe came to an end, so she was prepared for use against the Japanese as part of the ‘Tiger Force’. However, the war in the Far East also ended before she was deployed and she did not take part in any hostilities.
After a period in storage, PA474 was converted for photo-reconnaissance work; modifications for these duties included being stripped back to a bare metal (silver) finish and the removal of all her gun turrets. She was then assigned to aerial survey duties with No 82 Squadron in East and South Africa from September 1948 until February 1952.
On return to the UK, PA474 was loaned to Flight Refuelling Ltd at Tarrant Rushton to be used as a pilotless drone, an uncertain future, which would likely have led to her loss. Fortunately, before the conversion started, the Air Ministry decided to use a Lincoln for the drone programme and PA474 was reprieved. She was then transferred to the Royal College of Aeronautics at Cranfield where she was used as a trial platform for the testing of various experimental aerofoil sections between 1954 and 1964; the trial wings being mounted vertically on the upper rear fuselage.
In 1964 PA474 was adopted by the Air Historical Branch with a view to putting the aircraft on display as a static exhibit in the proposed RAF Museum at Hendon. She was flown to Wroughton where she was painted in a camouflage paint scheme, though without squadron markings, and it was during this period that the aircraft took part in two films, ‘Operation Crossbow’ and ‘The Guns of Navarone’.
Later in 1964, she was moved to RAF Henlow and grounded in preparation for display at the RAF Museum. In 1965, Wg Cdr D’Arcy, the CO of 44 Squadron (then flying Vulcans at RAF Waddington) asked permission for PA474 to be transferred into the care of the Squadron. An inspection found that the aircraft was structurally sound so permission was granted for PA474 to make a single flight from Henlow to Waddington, which it completed in August 1965.
At Waddington a restoration programme began on the Lancaster and by 1966 work was progressing well with both the front and rear turrets in place. Permission to fly PA474 regularly was granted in 1967, whilst restoration continued.
The Lancaster joined the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight in November 1973 and restoration work on various parts of the aircraft has continued ever since. A mid-upper turret was discovered in Argentina and was brought to Britain aboard HMS Hampshire; it was fitted to PA474 in 1975. In the same year, the aircraft was adopted by the City of Lincoln, permission being granted for her to display the City’s coat of arms, which will always be displayed on PA474 regardless of what colour scheme she wears.
For a period PA474 wore the markings of Lancaster EE139 the ‘Phantom of the Ruhr’, with the aircraft’s No 100 Squadron code letters ’HW-R’ on the port side, and the 550 Squadron codes ‘BQ-B on the starboard side. EE139 was one of only 35 Lancasters that completed more than 100 operational missions – the ‘Centurions’ or ‘Ton-up Lancs’ – most were lost long before achieving such a milestone.
However, here she is seen wearing the KC-A markings of 617 Squadron and the Thumper Mk III nose art, originally painted by Flt Lt Bob Knights upon his posting to 617 Squadron. She displays the markings of bombs for operations over Germany, ice-cream cones for operations over Italy, and poppies for when she has released poppies during exhibition flights.
Seen whilst conducting a fly-past during the Shuttleworth Collection's 50th Anniversary Air Show in 2013.