Most probably intended for a Miles Magister.

Thanks for posting these!

The Lancaster is probably a Canadian Mk. X on it’s way home.

I’ve seen that paint loss around the nose on other late production Canadian Lancasters.

They’re not Anson, unless the Canadian built ones differed drastically from those built in this country – which I think is unlikely.

My caption would be “Somewhere in England 1944” for the Halifax photo.

Surely it has what appears to be a standard Type E rear turret with four .303 Brownings? And it has Monica aerials fitted beneath the turret.

It’s a pity we cannot get a positive i.d. on the Mark of Halifax since it would help date the photo, but I’m assuming it is a Mk.III with Hercules engines, as the propellors look like the de H Hydromatic ones.

The Mk. IIIs were introduced around early March 1944, but Monica was stripped out of our aircraft in August 1944, after the famous “Woodbridge Ju88” trial when it was discovered just how far away that system could be tracked by German nightfighters equipped with Flensburg.

As there is snow on the ground, I assume the photo was taken during a winter. So, it might be a very early Mk. III, photographed in the snow in March (or maybe April?) 1944, before Monica was removed.

And the Squadron Code might also be KN, indicating an aircraft from 77 Squadron, which was based at Elvington at the time.

(Presses “Submit Message” button and sits back to wait for what seems like about twenty minutes before Keypublishing forum responds)

Here’s a pic of a standard rear sear release unit, common to most aeroplanes having .303 Brownings fired pneumatically.

One of your photos shows a Dunlop Part No. AHO5115 (if I’m reading it correctly).

The Air Ministry Stores Ref. series 5L usually covers filament lamps (bulbs). It doesn’t look right for this piece.

I agree with TT that cast numbers are usually maker’s refs, not Ministry ones.