Only post Lancaster pictures here.

Marco,

You are obsolutely correct in the fitness required by visitors especially the elderly.

Recently I saw a photograph of two RAAF veterans in a Lancaster section in Canberra who related the difficulty of negotiating the main spar.Did we have to do this all those years ago they remarked?.Incidentally this was the first time they had been in a Lancaster since early 1945 when they survived as POWs and unknown to them, the other five members of the crew were murdered on capture.

I will see if I can raise the photograph.Hard to do much with images when on dial up.

I found the best way of negoiating the main spar was a crouched slow motion hurdle approach with the leading leg clearing the spar first,then dragging the trailing leg over the spar.Electronic gear spares had to be manhandled and placed over the spar first but away from the intended leg room..... that could be a struggle.

 

definitely a halifax rear turret !

i've checked on the IWM site and the gunner in question is IDENTIFIED as standing next to a 102 Sq HALIFAX

 

That's why AVRO's recommended emergency exit was through the bomb aimer's floor.The front end crew always entered the aircraft via an access ladder through the bomb aimer's floor to afford access to their station without crossing the main spar.

Rear end starboard emergency exit was not recommended as there was danger of collision with the tail starboard rudder.

Tail gunners would exit the aircraft from their station and this was made easier by the installation of the Rose tail turret but mid uppers would find it difficult to negotiate the main spar especially at the high Gs to get to the bomb aimer's floor hatch.

I can tell you I have had plenty of experience in negotiating main spars but not on the Lancaster.The worse part was the rough edges which were always liable to chaff shins and tear working blue trousers.The main spar in the illustration appears to be padded.Working aircraft certainly did not have their main spars padded.[/QUOTE]
Thanks for that. I did'nt know about the the bomb aimer's entrance/exit as films and still photos always show all the crew embarking by the main entrance. I can vouch for the dificulty in passing through the aircraft having done the night 'Taxi run' on Just Jane. I had a daytime static tour recently which enabled me to sit in every position in the aircraft and getting in the rear gunner position was bloody difficult too. Incidentally the pilot on the day was an ex RAF pilot who had flown the Battle of Britain Memorial Lanc over Normandy for the 60th anniversary. Also there was an Wellington navigator vet who siad he thought there was more room on the 'Wimpy'.

 

HTTP://vimeo.com/m/15498493. This is a link to the Canadian Lancaster. It is a video of a flight from Ontario to Niagra Falls taken from within the aircraft. Its fairly long video but show the inside of the aircraft and well worth a viewing Regards Witchford

 

Great movie, but they have ripped her guts out, haven't they?

Regards,

Marco

 

Although I am known in the forum for my Warship pictures amd Warship Picture Gallery I do happen to have thousands of Aircraft pictures amd photographs. I dont think these have been posted before but here is a small selection of Lancaster pictures.

When I can find time I will search through albums and hard drives and find some more of this wonderful aircraft.

 

Lancaster W 4251






Lancaster W4251 took off from RAF Scampton at 1233 hours on 24th October 1942 detailed to bomb Milan, Italy. Nothing was heard from the aircraft after take off and it failed to return to base

 

saw this and thought id let you guys know..

postcard album of WW2 aircraft - 124 B&W photos fascinating! | eBay

 

Michael

 

Can anyone identify the Lancaster at the rear?

 

Here's two



The above picture is very exciting for me. My friend Sam Dunseith was the rear gunner on 300 Sqn Lanc LM178, BH-U. One of the top two a/c in this pic could very well be LM178. His a/c was shot down near Orleans on the night of July 24/25, 1944 and only Sam and two others survived. I recently gave him this 1/72 model as a commemorative of the crew who were lost.

 

This was indeed FM212 on its pedestal in Jackson Park, Windsor, circa 1964. Here it was in 2005 being rolled to its new home at the Windsor Airport and #7 E.F.T.S.



Seven years later we are well on the way to returning FM212 to airworthy condition.

 

Just Jane at East Kirkby

 

BBMF - Phantom of the Ruhr at Kemble last weekend.

 

Great photos as usual, Nick. Thanks for sharing.

 

City of Lincoln at Woodvale today:

http://www.ww2talk.com/forum/picture.php?albumid=947&pictureid=5643

 

http://www.ww2talk.com/forum/picture.php?albumid=947&pictureid=5642

 

http://www.ww2talk.com/forum/picture.php?albumid=947&pictureid=5641

 

The Mynarski Lanc, VeRA at Windsor Airport a week ago.



Two vets, P/O J. Henderson, 35 missions with 419 Sqn, and rear gunner F/Sgt S. Dunseith, 18 missions with 300 Sqn. I salute you, gentlemen!

 

Great photos dxtopher, thanks for posting.