Lancaster BII with radials
 

As there is a frenzy of interest about Canadian Lancaster bombers in the UK at the moment; I thought I would share with the forum an oil painting that I have finished today. It is 36"x 24" painted in oil on canvas and took 79 days to complete which sadly is about the length of time that the depicted airframe survived. It is a 432 (Leaside) Sqn RCAF aircraft that was based in 1943 at RAF East Moor, a satellite of Linton on Ouse near York. The Sqn operated the type for just six months having upgraded from Wellingtons and in turn Halifax BIII.

http://www.aeroartist.com/lancaster.jpg

I have enjoyed working on this composition and many people have learned about the radial engined BII Lancaster by watching the creative process on internet forums. 301 examples of the type were built and 60% lost. The availbility of US manafactured Packard Merlin engines cut short the second production run, yet the aircraft could carry a larger bomb load further and faster albeit at lower altitude than the Merlin engined examples. Being air cooled, it was also less vulnerable to flak or fighter damage as there were no cooling lines to depend upon.

If the image cannot be seen, try www.aeroartist.com/lancaster.htm

Radial Lancasters
 

Excellent to see the Lancaster Mk 11 variant being recognised which brought back some personal memories.
As a student in the late sixties, I worked part time in a popular fish and chip shop in Sale, South Manchester where the owner disclosed he had been an air gunner with 115 Sqn his history backed up with his operational log book.
He had been the only survivor when his aircraft a radial Avro Lancaster 11 was attacked landing in darkness and crashed on the approach to ( I think ) Woolfox Lodge.
He had swapped his mid position for the rear position that night and thought the German attacker was a Ju 188 because of a glimpse of it's extensive glazing.
Despite very extensive burns he made a complete recovery and resumed his life in the family business after the war.

DS847 was lost during a training flight on 16th November 1943, after an in-flight fire, sadly with the loss of 3 of the 7 crew (2 RCAF, 1 RAF).

Bale-outs - 16-11-1943

Men of 22 Operational Training Unit, Wellesbourne, Warwickshire

http://home.btconnect.com/aeroartist/lancaster.jpg

A useful insight, thankyou for posting. The painting was commisioned by a friend of the tail gunner who remains alive and well in Canada.

TM, I'll allow you that one on the basis that it is of interest. But......as you know we do not allow commercial activity on this forum or any other on PPRuNe.


I am closing the thread and when its gone its gone.