Avro Lancaster
From Conservapedia
The Avro Lancaster was the most successful British heavy bomber of the Second World War. Designed and manufactured by A. V. Roe of Manchester (and on licence by other manufacturers), it was a development of their less successful twin-engine 'Manchester' bomber. The 'Lanc' (as it was popularly known) was powered by four Rolls-Royce Merlin engines and had a crew of seven: bomb aimer, pilot, flight engineer, navigator, wireless operator, upper mid gunner, and rear gunner ('tail end Charlie'). It was noted for its toughness of construction, and an exceptional bomb load: by the end of the war, Lancasters were capable of carrying 22,000 lb (9,979 kg) 'Grand Slam' bombs. Maximum speed was 275 mph, service ceiling was 19,000 feet, and range with a 7000 lb bombload was over 2500 miles. Defensive armament consisted of nine machine guns in four turrets, including four guns in the tail.[1]
The Lancaster entered service with the Royal Air Force in 1942 and served through the rest of the war. Although principally associated with the area bombing campaign, Lancasters were also used by Pathfinder squadrons (composed of specially trained crews who would fly in advance of the main bomber stream to drop target markers) and by the specialist 617 Squadron, 'the Dambusters'.
Several Lancaster crewmen won the Victoria Cross, Britain's highest military honor, during the war.
After the war A. V. Roe produced a civil airliner named the 'Lancastrian' based on the Lancaster design.
References
- ↑ Military Aircraft Visual Guide, ed. by David Donald, Aerospace Publishing, 2008
