Avro Lancaster
The Avro Lancaster is a British Second World War heavy bomber. It was designed and manufactured by Avro as a contemporary of the Handley Page Halifax, both bombers having been developed to the same specification, as well as the Short Stirling, all three aircraft being four-engined heavy bombers adopted by the Royal Air Force (RAF) during the same wartime era.
The Lancaster has its origins in the twin-engine Avro Manchester which had been developed during the late 1930s in response to the Air Ministry Specification P.13/36 for a capable medium bomber for "world-wide use". Originally developed as an evolution of the Manchester (which had proved troublesome in service and was retired in 1942), the Lancaster was designed by Roy Chadwick and powered by four Rolls-Royce Merlins and in one version, Bristol Hercules engines. It first saw service with RAF Bomber Command in 1942 and as the strategic bombing offensive over Europe gathered momentum, it was the main aircraft for the night-time bombing campaigns that followed. As increasing numbers of the type were produced, it became the principal heavy bomber used by the RAF, the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) and squadrons from other Commonwealth and European countries serving within the RAF, overshadowing the Halifax and Stirling. Wikipedia
CASPIR Aircraft Groups:
RCAF On Strength (234), RCAF 6 Group (5), RCAF 400 Squadron (7), Canadian Aircraft Losses (1732)Lancaster Mk.X KB777
With No. 428 (B) Squadron, RCAF from August 1944, coded "NA*V". Bombed oil depot at La Pallice on 10/11 August 1944. Bombed Duisburg on 14 October 1944 (daylight raid); Essen on 23/24 October 1944; Essen on 25 October 1944 (daylight raid); and Nuremburg on 2/3 January 1945. Failed to return from day time raid on Hildesheim on 22 March 1945, shot down by Ju 88. Crew baled out at low altitude with port inner engine on fire. 3 killed, remainder POW.
1945-03-22 Failed to Return Failed to return from raid on Hildesheim, shot down by Ju 88. 2019-08-20