Lancaster (Total: 7,377, Canadian: 30, Group 30)
Avro Lancaster
Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum
The Avro Lancaster is a British Second World War heavy bomber. 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.
The Lancaster has its origins in the twin-engine Avro Manchester which had been developed during the late 1930s in response to the Air Ministry Specification P.13/36 for a capable medium bomber for "world-wide use". Originally developed as an evolution of the Manchester (which had proved troublesome in service and was retired in 1942), the Lancaster was designed by Roy Chadwick and powered by four Rolls-Royce Merlins and in one version, Bristol Hercules engines. It first saw service with RAF Bomber Command in 1942 and as the strategic bombing offensive over Europe gathered momentum, it was the main aircraft for the night-time bombing campaigns that followed. As increasing numbers of the type were produced, it became the principal heavy bomber used by the RAF, the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) and squadrons from other Commonwealth and European countries serving within the RAF, overshadowing the Halifax and Stirling. Wikipedia
Lancaster Bomber
Wikipedia 
Harold A Skaarup Web Page Lancaster RT670, Mk.VII
s/n RT670
Austin Motors
RT 670
Merlin
last update: 2025-March-10
Lancaster RT671, Mk.VII
s/n RT671
Austin Motors
RT 671
Merlin
last update: 2025-March-10
Lancaster RT672, Mk.VII
s/n RT672
Austin Motors
RT 672
Merlin
last update: 2025-March-10
Lancaster RT673, Mk.VII
s/n RT673
Austin Motors
RT 673
Merlin
last update: 2025-March-10
Lancaster RT674, Mk.VII
s/n RT674
Austin Motors
RT 674
Merlin
last update: 2025-March-10
Lancaster RT675, Mk.VII
s/n RT675
Austin Motors
RT 675
Merlin
last update: 2025-March-10
Lancaster RT676, Mk.VII
s/n RT676
Austin Motors
RT 676
Merlin
last update: 2025-March-10
Lancaster RT677, Mk.VII
s/n RT677
Austin Motors
RT 677
Merlin
last update: 2025-March-10
Lancaster RT678, Mk.VII
s/n RT678
Austin Motors
RT 678
Merlin
last update: 2025-March-10
Lancaster RT679, Mk.VII
s/n RT679
Austin Motors
RT 679
Merlin
last update: 2025-March-10
Lancaster RT680, Mk.VII
s/n RT680
Austin Motors
RT 680
Merlin
last update: 2025-March-10
Lancaster RT681, Mk.VII
s/n RT681
Austin Motors
RT 681
Merlin
last update: 2025-March-10
Lancaster RT682, Mk.VII
s/n RT682
Austin Motors
RT 682
Merlin
last update: 2025-March-10
Lancaster RT683, Mk.VII
s/n RT683
Austin Motors
RT 683
Merlin
last update: 2025-March-10
Lancaster RT684, Mk.VII
s/n RT684
Austin Motors
RT 684
Merlin
last update: 2025-March-10
Lancaster RT685, Mk.VII
s/n RT685
Austin Motors
RT 685
Merlin
last update: 2025-March-10
Lancaster RT686, Mk.VII
s/n RT686
Austin Motors
RT 686
Merlin
last update: 2025-March-10
Lancaster RT687, Mk.VII
s/n RT687
Austin Motors
RT 687
Merlin
last update: 2025-March-10
Lancaster RT688, Mk.VII
s/n RT688
Austin Motors
RT 688
Merlin
last update: 2025-March-10
Lancaster RT689, Mk.VII
s/n RT689
Austin Motors
RT 689
Merlin
last update: 2025-March-10
Lancaster RT690, Mk.VII
s/n RT690
Austin Motors
RT 690
Merlin
last update: 2025-March-10
Lancaster RT691, Mk.VII
s/n RT691
Austin Motors
RT 691
Merlin
last update: 2025-March-10
Lancaster RT692, Mk.VII
s/n RT692
Austin Motors
RT 692
Merlin
last update: 2025-March-10
Lancaster RT693, Mk.VII
s/n RT693
Austin Motors
RT 693
Merlin
last update: 2025-March-10
Lancaster RT694, Mk.VII
s/n RT694
Austin Motors
RT 694
Merlin
last update: 2025-March-10
Lancaster RT695, Mk.VII
s/n RT695
Austin Motors
RT 695
Merlin
last update: 2025-March-10
Lancaster RT696, Mk.VII
s/n RT696
Austin Motors
RT 696
Merlin
last update: 2025-March-10
Lancaster RT697, Mk.VII
s/n RT697
Austin Motors
RT 697
Merlin
last update: 2025-March-10
Lancaster RT698, Mk.VII
s/n RT698
Austin Motors
RT 698
Merlin
last update: 2025-March-10
Lancaster RT699, Mk.VII
s/n RT699
Austin Motors
RT 699
Merlin
last update: 2025-March-10
Avro Lancaster
Click to open:
Avro Type 683 Lancaster
| General Characteristics | ||
| Crew: | 7 (typical) | |
| Length: | 69 ft 6 in (21.18 m) | |
| Wingspan: | 102 ft 0 in (31.09 m) | |
| Height: | 20 ft 6 in (6.25 m) | |
| Wing area: | 1,300 sq ft (120 m2) | |
| Aerofoil: | Root: NACA 23018. Tip: NACA 23012 | |
| Empty weight: | 36,900 lb (16,738 kg) | |
| Max takeoff weight: | 72,000 lb (32,657 kg) | |
| Fuel capacity: | 2,154 imp gal (9,792 L) | |
| | ||
| Powerplants: | Lancaster Mk.I, III, VI, VII & X:
| |
| | ||
| Propellers: | Lancaster Mk.I, III, VI, VII & X:
| |
| Performance: | ||
| Maximum speed: |
| |
| Armament: | ||
| Standard: |
| |
| | ||
| Alternative/additional: |
| |
| | ||
| Bomb loads: | Typical:
| |
| | ||
| Communication and navigation equipment: |
| |
| | ||
| Radio Countermeasures: |
| |
Ventral Turrets
As originally designed the Lancaster was provided with ventral defence in the form of a Nash and Thompson FN64 turret, which was fitted to some early production aircraft. However, in common with all other periscope sighted ventral turrets, the narrow viewing angle made it almost impossible for gunners to acquire and track targets, and the few turrets which were installed were soon removed from service.
The ventral .50 inch (50 calib) was approved as Lanc Mod.925 during February 1944, and was one of a number of unsuccessful measures taken to counter night fighter attacks from below.
The growth of the Luftwaffe night fighter force was followed by an increase in the in the number of attacks from below, exacerbated from August 1943 onward by the introduction of aircraft equipped with Schrage Musik upward firing 20mm cannon. A number of responses were considered by Bomber Command including a free mounted ventral .50 calibre Browning machine gun, which was approved on the Lancaster as Modification 925 during February 1944.
The modification was very basic, consisting of little more than an enlarged bicycle seat for the gunner and a simple free mounted gun with open sights which fired through the ventral turret/H2S aperture. On aircraft with bulged bomb doors the mounting (often unpainted) was incorporated into the fairing at the rear of the doors.
Non-H2S fitted aircraft were sporadically equipped with the gun from February 1944 onward, although a clear plan for installation appears to have been lacking. The quantity of aircraft which actually had the gun installed is unknown and photos of the mounting with a Browning actually installed are very rare.
Serious problems quickly became apparent, as noted in the following V Group monthly newsletter for April 1944:- "With the gunner strapped in his seat it is difficult to follow the gun round on the beam; it is difficult for the gunner to get his head down behind the sight as it tends to push the oxygen mask upwards on the gunners face; and also considerable vibration is experienced on the sight when the gun is fired."
These problems, plus the gradually more widespread introduction of H2S saw the gun fall out of use quite quickly, although it does appear to have been retained on some aircraft until war's end (most notably in 3 Group).
The quantity of aircraft which actually had the gun installed is unknown and photos of the mounting with a Browning actually installed are very rare.
Notice on these aircraft the extra position in the eight person crew of Mid-Under-Gunner.