Avro Lancaster B.VI Info?

Isn’t that the Tyne Lincoln in 1956? I recall seeing it there. I still have a photo I took of that flyxpast on one engine.

Saw this Farnborough clip. If you forward the video to 7:28, just after the Beverley landing:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mieZZLYY9Dc

DAI

Jerry,
I realize this is and old post but, here goes:
JB713 was flown by your late neighbor (Victoria, BC) W/C Reg Lane DFO, DFC and Bar, C/O – 405 sqdn. PFF, on March 24/25, 44.
This a/c and crew were Master Bomber on the last of the Berlin raids….”The night of The Big Winds”.
The R/G,s log, (F/L Jimmy Scannell DFM, DFC, 89 ops), states: “25 minutes spent over target area”.
Dr. Theo Boiten has concluded they were intercepted and chased by a JU88 on return leg. The 88 was unable to overtake the MKVI due to it’s superior speed.
http://www.bombercommandmuseum.ca/s,reglane.html
There is a page somewhere(?) detailing Reg’s experience flying the MKVI, comparing it to a fighter, rather than a bomber.
Cheers.
Paul

additional info

Hi
Some extra info

JB675 7,106,635 Sqs F2-U

JB713 7,405,635 Sqs F2-Z

ND418 R-R jan 44, 82, 7,635,582 Sqs:RAE F2-Q

ND479 wrecked 26-apr-44, crashed on stick force tests.

ND558 R-R jan 44, AAEE,635Sq,R-R

ND673 R-R Mar 44, 7, 635Sqs, (F2-V),:RAE

ND784/G R-R Mar 44, AWA, 11 oct 44 to power jets,

info from harleyford book

Cheers
Jerry

Allan – thank you very much for that – very interesting! Nice to have the serials and conversions pinned down for us!

Moggy – Yes, I’d thought that it would probably have made a big difference to the loss rate. If the Lanc VI was capable of 345 mph at 30,000ft (anyone got any more solid information on that? My figures are from websites that I wouldn’t really trust!), then it would probably have more or less eliminated a lot of the Luftwaffe nightfighters as a threat – for example, the Bf 110G was only capable of about 350 mph!

Eddie

Confusing, ain’t it!

I’ve had a quick dig around in the database, and come up with the words and music below.

Nine seems to be the final figure and they were all Mk IIIs converted. As for engines, well, it seems that at various times they used the lot! All the aircraft that went for service trials had the Merlin 85s as per the Lancaster Mk IV (Lincoln Mk I), so it’s fair to say that this was the Lancaster Mk VI engine type, all others being trials or experimental installations.

Source? Many and various over a number of years!

Regards

Allan

DV170 Mk III converted to Mk VI. Used by Rolls Royce for Merlin trials : series 65, 85, 38, 68, 100, 102 & 621 300+ f/hrs testing. Dismantled (probably at Hucknall), by road to Newton 10Dec47, scrapped by 58MU

DV199 Mk III converted to Mk VI. Merlin 100 trials. Arrival date may be 16Jul43. Dismantled (Hucknall?), by road to Newton 12May47, scrapped by 58MU

JB675 Mk III converted to Mk VI prototype at Hucknall Nov43. At Hucknall for development of Merlin 68, 102, 150, 620 (fitted outboard for tests for Canadair 4), 621, 630, 641. Dismantled, by road to Cosford, scrapped Jul48

JB713 Mk III converted to Mk VI by R-R. Cat E (Missing) 19Aug44 on operations with 635 Sqdn

ND418 Mk III converted to Mk VI by R-R. 9 ops with 635 Sqdn. Dumped by Oct47

ND479 Mk III converted to Mk VI. Crashed while landing at Boscombe Down after engine failure

ND558 Mk III converted to Mk VI at R-R Hucknall. To Woodbridge 12Nov48 & SoC

ND673 Mk III converted to Mk VI. 23 ops with 635 Sqdn. Dumped at Farnborough /46

ND784 Mk III converted to Mk VI. Engine testbed : ASX in bombbay Mamba fitted in nose by AST, Hamble Oct47 Remains reported on Foulness Island Jun60

With hindsight, wouldn’t a faster and higher-flying Lancaster with the nose and mid-upper turrets deleted the 50 cal rear turret and some form of ventral defence (also 50 cal) have made a tremendous difference to casualties.

Moggy

Sorry, missed the opening sentance, “Inspired by the Lancaster Mk lV with four 1219kW (1635hp) Merlin 85 engines each driving a four-bladed propeller, the Lancaster B.Mk Vl was a development of the …… etc etc”

Thanks for the input kiwilanc.

I have to say I’d be inclined to discount that information, because photographs clearly show a different engine installation, with the annular radiators.

Given that the Merlin 85, 87 and 102 were all essentially the same engine, I believe that one or more of those engine marks was used.

According to Christopher Chant’s book page 49
The Lancaster B.Mk Vl was a development of the Lancaster Mk lll, with the same powerplant and an airframe that was changed only by the omission of the nose and dorsal turrets. The prototype conversion made it’s maiden flight in the spring of 1944, and another six aircraft followed. Only four of the aircraft were used operationally by Nos 7 and 635 Squadrons. They were used in the electronic warfare role with radar jamming and ‘window’ chaff equipment, and even these were withdrawn in November 1944.
So I guess now we have four books with differing info

Many thanks 🙂

Denis, my same source has ND784 flying at the RAE with the Armstrong Siddeley ASX in the bomb bay in April 1943.
Tony C, the later Francis K Mason “British Bombers” quotes the same information as my 1990 reprint of the A.J. Jackson book.
My research (into first flights) has often shown that mistakes are repeated in different books – I have no primary sources, I am afraid!

Having had a look at production information, DV170 and ND784 were Mk.IIIs when built, but that doesn’t necessarily mean there were no Mk.I’s converted.

From page 362 of “Avro Aircraft since 1908” by A.J. Jackson (Putnams)

Hhhmmmmmm,

My book claims Merlin 85’s and 87’s while PL’s states that 85’s and 102’s were used…

The information from PL’s book states that the Mk.1 was modifed while mine states that the Mk.III was used as the basic airframe…

There is also differences in the number of aircraft modified (9 or 13)

Aren’t we all just a little bit more confused than previous and who said that the written word can’t lie :confused: 🙂

Tony

PS
Papa, I’m not having a pop at you, just that 3 different books are giving differing information.

Papa lima,
what year/time span would that aircraft have flown ?.

Very interesting information, thanks guys! The only sources I had weren’t anything I’d consider really trustworthy, so I’d probably trust your 13 aircraft produced more than my 9!

Interesting to hear that there were 150 ordered, but later cancelled!

By the way Tony, it’s definitely a B.VI. The B.IV and B.V became the Lincoln B.1 and B.2.

Lancaster VI DV170

From page 362 of “Avro Aircraft since 1908” by A.J. Jackson (Putnams)

I’ve read various scraps of information, such as that there were 9 converted from B.IIIs…

The Lancaster Story by Peter Jacobs states that 13 were re-engined with Merlin 85’s and designated as the Lancaster Mk.VI/Mk.V (Merlin 87’s are also mentioned for the Mk.VI/V).

Would the difference be prototypes?

ND784 was modified to test the AW Mamba engine.

Also 150 Mk.VI/V were ordered with the serial range SR707 – SR907 but the Order was cancelled.

HTH

Tony

According to Putnam’s Avro book (page 375):
ND784 was a Lancaster VI allocated to Power Jets Ltd and equipped for mounting a variety of test engines in the bomb bay. Known as the “Lancaster Universal Test Bed” it flew at the RAE with four Merlin XXs and a 2600 lb thrust ASX in the bomb bay; later with four 1750 hp Merlin 85s in annular cowlings and a Mamba in the nose.

Thanks Lancman, unfortunately I don’t have his book. I’ll have to look out for a reasonably priced copy – it seems it sells for around £100 normally!