Lancaster Bomber
The Lancaster Mark X is the Canadian variant of the British Lancaster Bombers, a model of aircraft renowned for its role during the Second World War. Primarily used by the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF), Mark Xs played an important role in bombing campaigns all over Europe with the most important being Operation Chastise in May 1943 (better known as the Dambuster raids).
Production:
The first models of the Lancaster were built near Oldham, Lancashire, United Kingdom, by A.V. Roe & Company, or Avro. The Lancaster’s prototype (BT308) made its first flight on January 9th, 1941, and entered service with the Royal Air Force (RAF) in 1942. The Lancaster was inspired from a previous bomber called the Avro Manchester; it was never used in great numbers because ongoing engine issues made the aircraft unreliable.
Production of the Mark X started in September of 1943. Four American-made Packard Merlin engines powered the Mark X, and its flight instruments and radio equipment were also manufactured in North America. For the first round of production, Victory Aircraft (of Malton, Ontario) was tasked with manufacturing 300 Lancasters. In the second round of production, 200 Lancasters were to be produced but only 130 Lancasters left the production line. At the end, a total of 430 of the Mark Xs were made in Canada.
Cockpit of a Lancaster Bomber. (Credit: The Hanger Flight Museum)
Specifications:
- Wingspan: 31.1 m
- Height: 5.97 m
- Length: 21.1 m
- Maximum speed: 462 km/h
- Carry capacity: 6,360 kg
- Rate of climb: 500ft/ min
Lancasters usually carried a mix of highly explosive and incendiary bombs that were dropped through open doors from the belly of aircraft. They were also equipped with front, mid-upper, and rear turrets, each with machine-guns, so that the crew could defend the bomber from enemy aerial attacks.
Seven airmen, including one pilot, would operate a Lancaster. The remainder of the crew consists of a Bomb Aimer, Flight Engineer, Navigator, Radio Operator, Mid Upper Gunner, and a Tail Gunner. The Bomb Aimer would also operate as the Front Gunner.
Lancaster Mark X “Ruhr Express” at the Bomber Command Museum of Canada. (Credit: Ted McGrath)
More information:
The Bomber Command Museum of Canada (Nanton, AB) has its own Lancaster Mark X. Click the following link to take a virtual tour of their “Lanc”.
Click here to learn more about the Dambuster raids and a man, Flight Lieutenant Terry Taerum, who played a very important role.
Main photo: Lancaster Mark X flying over water. (Credit: Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum)
References:
National Defence, Royal Canadian Air Force. “A History of Lancaster KB882 – Backgrounder – Royal Canadian Air Force.” Canada.ca, December 16, 2021. https://www.canada.ca/en/department-national-defence/maple-leaf/rcaf/migration/2017/a-history-of-lancaster-kb882.html.
“Lancaster History,” n.d. https://www.lancaster-archive.com/lanc_hist.htm.
BomberAdmin. “Canadian Built Avro Lancasters – Bomber Command Museum of Canada,” January 28, 2018. https://www.bombercommandmuseum.ca/aircraft/canadian-built-avro-lancasters/.
The Canadian Encyclopedia. “Avro Lancaster,” n.d. https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/avro-lancaster.