Lancaster RF323

Andy,

A pleasure. Having looked at the Ebay advert pictures more closely I see that the last one is of an ‘Info. board’ that states it’s from RF325, rather than RF323 as detailed in the advert description. This would indeed make it as being from the last operational RAF Lancaster (if one ignores PA474, which is technically still an ‘operational’ Lancaster with the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight).

Steve.

Steve, thanks for that. It was seeing the ebay item which sparked off my question.
Andy

Just ‘googled’ and found an eBay advert for a radar indicator that allegedly was fitted to RF323 with a little info about the aircraft within – see here – http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/WW2-late-Cold-War-era-RAF-Radar-indicator-Type-1-Lancaster-Bomber-/282444057503?hash=item41c2fa4b9f%3Ag%3AQdQAAOSw5UZY%7EI3f

BUT – having found this PDF it appears that the advert is possibly incorrect and the last in service Lanc was RF325? See page 16 of the PDF linked to here – http://www.raf.mod.uk/rafstmawgan/rafcms/mediafiles/999C5E1B_5056_A318_A88ECCCD6DAA03E5.pdf

Also – from ‘The Avro Lancaster’ by Francis K. Mason – RF323 – ASR Mk.3: No. 621 Sqn. No. 38 Sqn.; RL-C. Caught fire while refuelling at Ein Shemer, Palestine, 28-3-47.

A link to the above refuelling incident is here telling of the gallantry of RAF Sgt John Beckett who was awarded the George Cross http://www.britishforcesinpalestine.org/gallantry.html

Steve.

All I have is

Built as a B.III converted to a ASRIII 38sqn coded RL-C then RL-R SOC May 1947

Richard