French Lancaster Tail "THINGY"

Peter seems to have hit the nail on the head. That it is a camera housing (as originally seen on NX622) is discussed in the MMP Lancaster Survivors book on page 127

If it was gun-laying radar there would be a radome, so probably discount that one.

I note that the tail turret guns appear to be 0.50 cals. With their large (by 0.303 standards) cases perhaps it is some sort of chute to dump them overboard to avoid cluttering up the very limited space in the turret?

Anon.

This housing could be seen on a number of such Aeronavale Lancasters and is in the same position and at a similar angle to a pod containing rear facing cameras that were fitted to RAF GR3 examples. However, some sources suggest that on Aeronavale machines the device pictured was a flare chute. See:

http://www.britmodeller.com/forums/index.php?/topic/20529-lancaster-gr3/

…pretty sure that’s French Aeronavale, with possibly an MAD sting out back ?

Camera..