I was wondering if anybody might be able to help me. I have come across some entries in a log book that date to October 1952 and deal with pilotless trial with a Lancaster.
All four flights are in Lancaster 636 (the letters are not listed), and are listed as follows:
6th October – Pilotless Lancaster Landings (Pilot S/L Lloyd)
10th October – GX90 (Camera Fun) (Pilot S/L Lloyd)
13th October – Pilotless Lancaster Investigation (Pilot S/L/Lloyd)
22nd October – Pilotless Lanc Investigation (Pilot S/L Turner)
The flights were carried out while at the Experimental Flying Department, RAE Farnborough.
I was wondering if any members might know more about these trial, or be able to tell me which lancaster they were using.
Are there any books published that cover the work of the RAE during May 52 to September 54?
Any help would be great,
Johnnie
By: ChiefofFairies - 21st July 2009 at 11:39
Pilotless Lancaster Investigation
Johnnie
P.M. for you.
Allan
By: johnnie - 16th July 2009 at 17:30
Thanks for clearing it up. I hadn’t clicked that FE was Far East!!
Johnnie
By: Creaking Door - 16th July 2009 at 17:19
Thanks, C.D, in my haste to get the response away, I omitted the vital bit!
Thanks for the five minute puzzle…..it was fun! 🙂
By: ChiefofFairies - 16th July 2009 at 17:11
Pilotless Lancaster Investigation
Thanks, C.D, in my haste to get the response away, I omitted the vital bit! What an eejit. Yes, it was NX636.
The FE stands for Far East, indicating that the Lancaster had received modifications to enable it to operate in the Far East. It did so with 9 Sqdn at Salbani, India.
Sorry about that, Johnnie.
Regards
Allan
By: Creaking Door - 16th July 2009 at 16:24
NX636? Lancaster BVII (FE) RAE Oct48 – Sep 55
By: johnnie - 16th July 2009 at 15:37
Hi. Thanks for the information.
Were FE rge letters (so the serial would have been FE636? Only I haven’t been able to find any Lancasters with that serial.
I’ll send a PM re other details.
Johnnie
By: ChiefofFairies - 16th July 2009 at 15:03
Pilotless Lancaster Investigation
Johnnie
The only Lancaster with ‘636’ in its serial and used by RAE is an Austin Motors-built B.7 (FE). It was issued to RAE on 7/10/48, remaining until 27/7/53.
Can’t help with details of the trial, unless it was early tests for the pilotless drone programme which was initially to use Lancasters, then changed to Lincolns and finally abandoned altogether.
I would dearly like details of any Lancaster/Lincoln flights in that logbook, if that’s at all possible.
Regards
Allan
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July 16, 2009 at 11:50 am