Lancaster ND623 AS-F 166Sdr

The info i have is as follows, I have the names of all the owners. The Turret was removed when it arrived at flight re-fueling by the first owner ( name known) This was standard cpractice for aircraft being converted for flight re-fueling, I believe for use as a planter, it then past to a collector(name known) who recently past it to the contact I got it from.
Why don’t you think this Lanc didnt see action?it was damaged after 8 days with 166. Now i have the dates I am having the ORB of 166 researched so that should settle it.

Apols. I misread the history. Thought it was straight into refuelling trials after having radio/radar fitted.

Found this picture of early in flight re-fueling, looks like the rear turret has been removed on this one to.

A picture exists of the aircraft after it’s accident at Staverton…I know, because I’ve seen it!! I just can’t remember where!!!

Wow that would be really cool, I have tried all sorts of googles but cant get anything with a picture.

A picture exists of the aircraft after it’s accident at Staverton…I know, because I’ve seen it!! I just can’t remember where!!!

Graham,
canopy was a spareable item, what is the proof?

Mind you, as this Lanc probably never saw action the canopy as fitted was probably the same one as WO.

Harry Holmes was mentioned above, anybody know if he is still alive?

The info i have is as follows, I have the names of all the owners. The Turret was removed when it arrived at flight re-fueling by the first owner ( name known) This was standard cpractice for aircraft being converted for flight re-fueling, I believe for use as a planter, it then past to a collector(name known) who recently past it to the contact I got it from.
Why don’t you think this Lanc didnt see action?it was damaged after 8 days with 166. Now i have the dates I am having the ORB of 166 researched so that should settle it.

Graham,
canopy was a spareable item, what is the proof?

Mind you, as this Lanc probably never saw action the canopy as fitted was probably the same one as WO.

Harry Holmes was mentioned above, anybody know if he is still alive?

If you are wondering about my interest i just managed to purchase the canopy for the rear turret from this aircraft.:)

Graham

ND623 left Avro on completion on 15/2/44, and was flown to 32 Maintenance Unit at St Athan. The usual reason for a Lancaster to go to 32 MU before entering service was for the installation of special radio/radar equipment. Perhaps ND623 had something secret fitted, hence the requirement for guarding it (/G). It left St Athan for Kirmington and 166 Sqdn on 23/2/44 where it became AS-F. On 1/3/44 it received Category B damage, which meant dismantling and delivery by road to a factory repair facility. On the same date, the Operations Record Book for RAF Woodbridge, the emergency landing ground, records that AS-F, captained by F/S Booth made a belly landing there at 1228 hrs after hitting a snow bank on take off from base for an air test.

Repairs at an Avro factory took until 12/8/44, and on 31/8/44 ND623 was allotted to Flight Refuelling Ltd for in-flight refuelling development work. It was written off on 11/10/45 while attempting to land at Staverton after a refuelling exercise. It still had 500 gallons of fuel aboard in internal tanks when it touched too fast with no wind on a short runway. It overshot into a deep brook.

You may like to know, if you don’t already, that the history of 166 Sqdn is covered in ‘On Wings of War’ by Jim Wright ISBN 0 9528476 0 4.

Regards

Allan

Wow, Alan

Thats awesome thankyou very much for the info. I wonder what was special about it.

Lancaster ND623 AS-F 166 Sqdn

Graham

ND623 left Avro on completion on 15/2/44, and was flown to 32 Maintenance Unit at St Athan. The usual reason for a Lancaster to go to 32 MU before entering service was for the installation of special radio/radar equipment. Perhaps ND623 had something secret fitted, hence the requirement for guarding it (/G). It left St Athan for Kirmington and 166 Sqdn on 23/2/44 where it became AS-F. On 1/3/44 it received Category B damage, which meant dismantling and delivery by road to a factory repair facility. On the same date, the Operations Record Book for RAF Woodbridge, the emergency landing ground, records that AS-F, captained by F/S Booth made a belly landing there at 1228 hrs after hitting a snow bank on take off from base for an air test.

Repairs at an Avro factory took until 12/8/44, and on 31/8/44 ND623 was allotted to Flight Refuelling Ltd for in-flight refuelling development work. It was written off on 11/10/45 while attempting to land at Staverton after a refuelling exercise. It still had 500 gallons of fuel aboard in internal tanks when it touched too fast with no wind on a short runway. It overshot into a deep brook.

You may like to know, if you don’t already, that the history of 166 Sqdn is covered in ‘On Wings of War’ by Jim Wright ISBN 0 9528476 0 4.

Regards

Allan

The G stood for Guard, anything exotic had the suffix, eg whittle jet, dambuster lancs etc and preumably an erk had to stand by it with a rifle.

Hello Graham, Harry Holmes ‘Dfinitive Record’ has it as ND623/G making it a bit exotic. 32MU, 166Sqn, Flt Refueling Ltd and Air Britain has it lost on11/10/45 overshot landing and hit trees, Staverton. Facts but no more, All the best, Ian.

Thanks Ian I have found a bit more info apparently ND620 as AS-I made its first operational flight with 616 24th March 1944 to Berlin so I would have thought that ND623 arrived at the same time. Whats the G bit all about? Is it possible this aircraft had village Inn, as far as i am aware 616 didnt get it?

AS-F aircraft were DV247 EE200 LM390 LM521 ME637 ME812 ND506 ND623

166 ORB from March 1944 should solve the mystery;)

Hello Graham, Harry Holmes ‘Dfinitive Record’ has it as ND623/G making it a bit exotic. 32MU, 166Sqn, Flt Refueling Ltd and Air Britain has it lost on11/10/45 overshot landing and hit trees, Staverton. Facts but no more, All the best, Ian.