BABS Aerial

For Miggers,
All the Mk.1 Lancasters had the smaller astrodomes and the Aircam photo’s are no good in showing if it had the larger astrodome fitted later.
The rear fuselage hand-rail was the Beam Approach aerial (BABS) which was interrogated by Rebecca. My reckoning is that any Lanc with the nose Rebecca aerials fitted also had the rear fuselage BABS hand rail aerial. The Lorenz system was a German Beam system used for guide bombing so is technically different.

I like the civil aviation from the fifties and sixties still a lot of info out there and i like the detective work on WW11 types i.e. The Lancaster thread. You often find things out on this forum that are not in books and official records.

Keep the forum going and the good humour and manners of the contributors.

Picture of the crash memorial on this link :http://www.578squadron.org.uk/memorials/

The “G” suffix denoted that it had special equipment aboard for test, in this case probably Gee or Oboe for No.8 Group. The picture was taken from a Mosquito of 1409 flight piloted by Sqdn/Ldr N. Bicknell 14/7/44 at 15,500ft. The “G” suffix has been erased as has the original roundels which was in a non-standard position.The photograph was submitted by J.A.L.Currie (is it the famous No.12 Squadron pilot who has written a lot of Bomber books sadly now deceased ?)
I have the Aircam book No12 and it was published in 1970,by Osprey publications,and is still a gem on Lancaster information.

LK834 and MZ696 both of 578 Sqdn at RAF Burn collided at 2,000ft on return from Bottrop and crashed near Balkholme,Yorks 21.7.44.

It seems highly likely that the bomb/s are from these machines would be interesting to see what other artefacts may come too light.

Hello Miggers and 682al, I started a rostered 12 hour day shift at 04:45hrs today hence the late reply.
The port side shows a flat panel i am not sure on the starb side as all Mk.1 Lanc’s did have side blisters fitted from the factory. The picture at 22 MU Silloth was taken when censorship of the H2S radome had probably stopped.
It seems the early serialled i.e. R serials Lancs had the Lorenz aerials fitted so highly unlikely to have been fitted.

The Lancaster does seem in all its variants and cross mods to promote lengthy debate which makes this forum pleasurable in helping one another.

From late 44 most P-51’s carried the cigar tanks for extended strafing runs over Eastern and Southern Germany plus they were in plentiful supply.