Manchester (Total: 28, Canadian: 28, Group 0)

Avro Manchester

(RAF Photo)(Source Harold A Skaarup Web Page)
Avro Manchester Mk. IA.

The Avro 679 Manchester was a British twin-engine medium bomber developed and manufactured in the United Kingdom. While not being built in great numbers, it was the forerunner of the famed and vastly more successful four-engined Avro Lancaster. Avro designed the Manchester to replace its inventory of twin-engine bombers. It first flew on 25 July 1939, and entered squadron service in November 1940, just over twelve months after the outbreak of the war. Operated by both RAF and the RCAF, the Manchester proved to be underpowered and unreliable, and production was terminated in 1941. However, the Manchester was redesigned into a four-engined heavy bomber, the Avro Lancaster, powered by Rolls-Royce Merlin engines.

200 airframes completed as true Manchesters were issued to front line RAF squadron's,. Of these, a total 77 aircraft were lost on operations and an additional 20 were lost in various accidents with those squadrons. An additional 24 aircraft were lost during training flights with non-operational units, such as those being used by Heavy Conversion Unit (HCU) Flights. Combined losses therefore, were 121 or 60.50 percent of the original 200 aircraft. From those losses, 33 were directly due to engine failures - 12 with the squadrons, 21 with training units. Another 28 aircraft lost during operations, were thought to have been caused due to engine failure. As the airframes and engines could not be examined, these are listed as "Probably Lost Due To Enemy Action". Harold Skaarup web page

YouTube Manchester

Wikipedia Wikipedia Manchester Bomber

unvetted Source Harold A Skaarup Web Page

Manchester serial L7309

s/n L7309

L 7309

Manchester Mk. l serial L7314

s/n L7314

L 7314

Known Units: ;207


last update: 2025-June-01

Manchester Mk. l serial L7316

s/n L7316

L 7316

Known Units: ;207


last update: 2025-June-01

Manchester Mk l serial L7324

s/n L7324

L 7324

Known Units: ;97


last update: 2025-June-01

Manchester serial L7401

s/n L7401

EQ RAF Roundel N

L 7401

Known Units: 408;44;61;50

Served with the Manchester Conversion Flight of No. 408 (B) Squadron, RCAF in May and June 1942. Only Manchester with this unit. Coded "EQ*N". Launched for 1,000 plane raid on Colgne on 30/31 May 1942, returned early after hydraulic failure. Only completed operation was bombing of Essen on 1/2 June 1942. Also served with No. 44 Squadron, No. 61 Squadron (including 1,000 plane raid on Essen on 1/2 June 1942?), No. 50 Squadron (including raid on Bremen on 25/26 June 1942), No. 1485 (Target Towing) Flight, and No. 1661 Conversion Unit.
last update: 2025-February-05
   1943-October-15 Struck off Strength 2019-08-20

Manchester Mk. l serial L7418

s/n L7418

L 7418

Manchester Mk. l serial L7426

s/n L7426

L 7426

Manchester serial L7432

s/n L7432

L 7432

Manchester Mk. l serial L7433

s/n L7433

L 7433

Manchester Mk. l serial L7454

s/n L7454

L 7454

Manchester serial L7456

s/n L7456

L 7456

Manchester serial L7463

s/n L7463

L 7463

Manchester Mk. 1 serial L7466

s/n L7466

L 7466

Manchester serial L7489

s/n L7489

L 7489

Manchester Mk. i serial L7490

Manchester Mk. l serial L7497

s/n L7497

L 7497

Manchester Mk. I serial L7518

s/n L7518

L 7518

Known Units: ;61


last update: 2025-June-01

Manchester Mk. l serial L7519

s/n L7519

L 7519

Manchester Mk. l serial R5781

s/n R5781

R 5781

Manchester serial R5782

s/n R5782

R 5782

Manchester serial R5785

s/n R5785

R 5785