Is this a known Dambuster film Lanc.?
No.
NX782 was marked as ZN-G of 106 Sqn. and appears early in the film, then I believe it is the non-converted Lancaster seen flying low over the Howden Reservoir, dropping practice bombs (not Upkeeps) on a water target. Much later on in the film, it must be the fourth Lanc, in the distance, when the crews start arriving at the dispersals.
NX673 played AJ-P, but retained it’s original serial.
RT686 played AJ-M, ditto.
NX679 played AJ-G and was marked ED932.
All these appear to have had the Lincoln rudders, and light painted spinners, so no easy clues.
I’m puzzled as to why we cannot see a serial on the Lanc in your picture. The “other two” Lancs retained their original serials, and these were painted quite light (light grey?) and so should stand out on the picture. NX679, however, was painted as ED932. I wonder if this was done by overpainting it’s true serial with a temporary black finish, then the false serial applied in brick red, the intention being that it would easily revert to NX679 after filming ended. If this photo was taken around that point, then maybe the temporary paint had faded/flaked/been eroded by weather, but not enough to reveal the original serial?
And another thing I’ve noticed.
Look at the still of Gibson and his crew arriving at ED932, played by NX679. There is a dark mark, just below the cockpit. I cannot work out what this is. Is it some kind of (oil?) stain, or has the paintwork been touched up, or has some previous marking been over-painted? Or is it actually a “widget”, maybe some kind of shroud over the navigator’s drift recorder (although I’ve never seen one before)?
Next, compare it with your photo. There seems to be a similar mark on it.
If it’s a random stain, I would suggest this is the same aircraft (NX679), but if something has been over-painted, or it is a widget, then I suppose it could be any of them, as they could all have been modded in the same way.
(The attached pictures aren’t of the best quality, but if you dabble with Mark’s photo in Paintshop or whatever, you’ll see the mark I’m referring to quite clearly).
Step up the next theorist!
Sign In
