Locking the pax in ?
Smudge,
Your:
"the Bomb doors on the Lancaster could be padlocked from the outside. The impression that I got was that it was done to prevent the crew inadvertently opening the bomb doors, with the "air experience" personnel in the Bomb bay"
fills me with horror !
It can't be true that they put the poor devils inside, in total darkness, then padlocked them in (what happened when they lost the key ?), and took to the air ? If that was Air Experience, I'd reckon it would put them off for life ! (Yet, now I come to think of it, didn't the diplomatic courier Mossie to Sweden carry passengers to Sweden - and escapees back to UK - in the bays ? I believe they chucked in a pillow and a blanket or two for them.
Cheers, Danny.