The Lancaster is R5689 VN-N (‘N-Nan’) of 50 Sqn at RAF Skellingthorpe, just outside of Lincoln (now a housing estate). It crashed on approach to Skellingthorpe at Thurlby (Lincolnshire) returning form a ‘Gardening’ sortie 18th/19th September 1942 (the morning of the 19th).

If it is the ‘Pembrey’ (captured 23/6/42) 190, then it’s Fw 190A-3 MP499 of the RAE, which was struck off charge on 18/9/43. I don’t have the good old Midland Counties ‘Air Min’ book to hand at the moment to comment further – feel free to tell me otherwise! (EDIT – IIRC, I’m sure I have seen somewhere, either a previous discussion here or elswhere that bits of this airframe still exist)

The time frame fits that both aircraft were in the air at the same time (supposition mode here chaps!). R5689 was reputedly the most photographed wartime Lancaster so it is not improbable that this might have been a publicity/propoganda shot (unpublished)? In any case, what was the camera ship?! It must have been quite a tail-chase!

Just a few thoughts.

Splendid photo colhot.

Chris