I have been asked for information on the Lancaster in this photograph. From its colour could it be an MR3? Maybe at St Mawgan? The only information from the picture’s owner is that the third man in the back row is a certain William Winters, a sailor in the submarine service in WW2. The white colour scheme could be Far East, but the conjunction with a bunch of sailors suggests MR to me.
Anyone got an idea as to where and when? Thanks
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By: Graham Boak - 29th January 2015 at 13:20
Another was RE164 coded P9.B
By: l.garey - 29th January 2015 at 10:53
Any possibility of the aircraft belonging to the ASWDU,who flew Lancasters at Ballykelly?
With the Joint Anti-Submarine School in Derry, possibly their could have been some air experience offered to the navy or some form of exchange.
I found a photo of a Mk III of ASWDU coded 9P, serial apparently RE171, painted white.
http://www.sywellaerodrome.co.uk/sywell-aerodrome-magazine-2005-39-national-service.php
By: Duggy - 28th January 2015 at 15:02
Here’s a list of the “Tigerforce” Lancasters from Air Pictorial October 74.
By: l.garey - 28th January 2015 at 14:19
Thanks for all the input so far. I think several possibilities are still open.
By: Graham Boak - 28th January 2015 at 13:47
The posting was more to tidy up the loose end with these FAA Lancs. I agree that Ballykelly must be favourite, though I wouldn’t completely rule out FAA on the grounds of the colours. There are examples of FAA aircraft in Coastal White – I’m thinking of Avengers in particular. It would however be most unusual on a Lancaster that that time.
By: Beermat - 28th January 2015 at 13:17
Doesn’t the known fact that one of the Naval personnel pictured was a submariner, and the ASW scheme (as opposed to anything FAA), suggest Ballykelly and the joint-service Anti Submarine school as per my posts and links above, based at HMS Sea Eagle but using Lancasters out of RAF Ballykelly, as first suggested by Airfixtwin?
By: Graham Boak - 28th January 2015 at 12:19
780 Sq FAA operated a few Lancasters from Peplow, a satellite of Hinstock. From March 1946 to Jan 1947
PA224 to RNDA 29.11.45, to 780 Sq Hinstock 1946
RA513 to RNDA 21.11.45 then ditto
RA528 to 780 Sq Hinstock 21.22.45; 10MU 16.1.47
The unit also operated NG232
Info Air Britain’s FAA books. They don’t make the postwar listing of all FAA types, so there may a couple that have fallen through that particular gap.
Wasn’t the Tiger Force scheme white tops and black bellies? This does look more like the ASW scheme of Coastal Command with Extra dark Sea Grey top, white sides and bottom.
By: Beermat - 28th January 2015 at 10:30
Two Lancasters with the JASS were SW371 ( http://aviation-safety.net/wikibase/wiki.php?id=153955 ) and SW290 ( http://aviation-safety.net/wikibase/wiki.php?id=30737 )
Certainly SW290 was carrying Naval personnel when it was lost: http://www.rafcommands.com/archive/04371.php
By: Beermat - 28th January 2015 at 09:38
According to this source – http://www.avroshackleton.com/Ballykelly.html – the Joint Anti-Submarine School (RN and RAF) had it’s own Lancasters at Ballykelly (presumably on charge with the RAF at the station, but as a joint unit doubtless taking up naval ratings): “and the RAF’s JASS Flight, based at a now re-opened Ballykelly, initially equipped with two Lancasters, one Warwick and one Anson”
By: Airfixtwin - 28th January 2015 at 00:07
Just a thought.
Any possibility of the aircraft belonging to the ASWDU,who flew Lancasters at Ballykelly?
With the Joint Anti-Submarine School in Derry, possibly their could have been some air experience offered to the navy or some form of exchange.
Another thing struck me. I’ve read that Maritime Reconnaissance crews didn’t wear parachutes, as it wasn’t much use parachuting from an aircraft over open sea, when the dingy was with teh aircraft. So better to ditch. All the men in the photo have the observer type parachute harness and clip on chute. They don’t appear to have any type of flying helmets or headsets
Just posing for a photo opportunity?
By: 467 sqn RAAF - 27th January 2015 at 23:31
Reminds me of a picture my Grandad showed me a month or two ago of POW’s being repatriated, the photo in question was taken bringing POW’s back from Bari at the end of the war. Not saying that is what the picture is though!
By: mike currill - 27th January 2015 at 13:13
Ah so we were a bit adrift on those prop badges. The plot thickens!:)
My thoughts too. It seems that this is one of those threads where the more questions we find answers to the more questions it raises. Keeps the thread interesting though even if it does make it a little frustrating for the OP.
By: l.garey - 27th January 2015 at 07:34
Not yet, but probably shall. I am trying www.royalnavyresearcharchive.org.uk
By: charliehunt - 27th January 2015 at 07:21
Laurence – have you posted on http://www.airfieldinformationexchange.org/community/forum.php ? They are often good on this sort of identification.
By: l.garey - 27th January 2015 at 06:52
Hello T-21. Could be, but what is the Navy connection?
By: T-21 - 27th January 2015 at 06:42
St.Eval crying out to me ?
By: charliehunt - 27th January 2015 at 05:45
So you did Laurence – apologies, I was a bit adrift…..:)
By: l.garey - 27th January 2015 at 05:35
Thanks Lynx. In fact, Charlie, that’s what I said in post 7.
By: charliehunt - 26th January 2015 at 19:35
Ah so we were a bit adrift on those prop badges. The plot thickens!:)
By: Lynx815 - 26th January 2015 at 19:16
The two kneeling have Marine Engineering Mechanic (MEM) badges on their right sleeves so definitely not FAA ratings. The three blades represent a ship’s propeller.
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January 26, 2015 at 12:51 pm