Avro Lancaster by Richard Marks

Author:Richard Marks [Marks, Richard]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2015-06-18T09:31:00+00:00

with ‘Tiger Force’, the RAF’s task force created for service against Japan This Lancaster B. Mark VI is alongside the United States Army Air Force. These aircraft were designated fitted with an Armstrong Lancaster B. Mark I (FE).

Siddeley ASX jet engine in its

bomb bay in late 1945 for

In view of the long distances involved in operating in the Pacific Theatre flight tests. The nose turret of Operations, a number of suggestions were made concerning ways in which has been faired in to save

the Lancaster’s range could be increased. One idea saw two Lancasters, weight, since it is not required.

HK541 and SW244, converted to carry large saddle tanks on the upper

central fuselage. These long-range fuel tanks were fitted in a large fairing, which extended from the cockpit to just aft of the trailing edge of the wing and necessitated the removal of the mid-upper turret. The tanks increased fuel capacity by 1,500 gallons, but also increased the all-up weight of the aircraft to 72,000lb. HK541 underwent trials at A&AEE at Boscombe Down before being sent to Mauripor in India for in-theatre trials in May 1944, being followed by SW244 in August 1945. The two aircraft underwent trials with No. 1577 Flight, where it was found that the aircraft’s handling

characteristics were poor, and the project was abandoned. The aircraft were flown home and scrapped.

Another idea was for 600 Lancasters to be converted to in-flight refuelling tankers. In-flight refuelling had been demonstrated before the war, although its application in military operations was relatively untried. Trials began at A&AEE at Boscombe Down at the end of 1944 using LM730, which had been modified with in-flight refuelling couplings. Delays in the arrival of the Lincoln and the end of the war meant that the programme’s relevance became academic and the project was cancelled.

Despite the trials with saddle fuel tanks and in-flight refuelling, it was decided that ‘Tiger Force’ would be equipped with tropicalized standard Lancaster B. Mark I, B. Mark III or B. Mark VII airframes. The mid-upper turrets would be removed to allow the FE aircraft to be fitted with an

additional 400-gallon fuel tank in the bomb bay. The FE-designated aircraft 35

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