Avro Lancaster Photo from History Net

The Avro Lancaster: some may know her purely for the menacing yet elegant design, while others may know her as the most successful heavy bomber in World War 2; and then there were those who regard the "Lanc" as the single greatest factor contributing to the Allied victory over Nazi Germany. No matter how or what you think about the Lancaster, one thing is for certain: if the Spitfire is the most iconic lightweight plane during WW2, then the Lancaster is the undisputed heavyweight champion.

The Origins of the Lancaster

During WW2, area bombing was the pinnacle of military technology and having the tools to deploy this tactic gauged your military prowess. However, this is where the RAF (the British Royal Air Force) lagged behind Germany's Luftwaffe - the German Air Force - and they needed to do something quickly. In response to the Air Ministry Specification P.13/36 which was for a capable medium bomber for world-wide-use, the Avro Manchester was born.

The twin-engine Avro Manchester entered service in November 1940 and only saw limited action as it was later regarded as an operational failure. The Rolls-Royce Vulture engines that were fitted onto the Manchester were deficient and made the bomber highly underpowered and unreliable. In need of something more capable, the Manchester was retired in 1942 and was redesigned into a four-engine beast - the Avro Lancaster.

How the Lancaster Got Its Name

The majority of the aircraft built by the RAF all had a standard naming convention which consisted of the manufacturer and the place it was assembled. Just like the Handley Page Halifax which was manufactured by Handley Page in Halifax, the Avro Lancaster was manufactured by Avro in their factory based in Lancashire.

What Made the Lancaster So Effective?

Two other heavy bombers were made to the Specification P.13/36: the Handley Page Halifax and the Short Stirling; both were ultimately overshadowed by the Lancaster. In the latter half of World War 2, the "Lanc" became the principal heavy bomber used by the RAF and Sir Arthur Harris, Head of Bomber Command at the time even described the aircraft as his "Shining Sword" and "the greatest single factor in winning the war".

Lancaster was truly ahead of her time. She had much greater aerodynamics than her counterparts which allowed for precision and stable flying at both high and low altitudes; a key quality for area bombing. The strong airframe, large wings, and four-engine combination allowed the Lancaster to carry 33,100 lbs in fuel and bombs while the Halifax and Stirling averaged 13,000 lbs and 14,000 lbs respectively.

What truly made the Lancaster the most successful heavy bomber was her long and unobstructed bomb bay. The bomb bay measured in at 33ft (10 m) and allowed the Lancaster to carry the biggest conventional bombs at the time: the 12,000 lbs Tallboy and the 22,000 lbs Grand Slam Earthquake. At the end of the war, the "Lanc" dropped 608,612 tons of bombs compared to the 224,207 tons and 27,000 tons dropped by the Halifax and Stirling respectively.

Most Notable Achievements

While the Lancaster had been on 156,000 missions, two of the more historical exploits were the attack of the Möhne, Sorpe, and Eder hydroelectric dams in 1943; and the sinking of the battleship Tirpitz in 1944. The dams were the power center of the German industrial might and they had to be destroyed sooner rather than later. A special unit was set up for this mission and was put under the command of Guy Gibson. Under Guy Gibson, the 617 squadron took to the skies on the night of 16th to 17th of May 1943 and completed operation Chastise.

Tirpitz was the pride and joy of Hitler and it really showcased the German’s superior technology at the time. With preceding missions unable to sink the Tirpitz, the Allied forces were starting to lose hope. In came the Avro Lancaster and in a series of three attacks spanning from September to November, the Tirpitz was sunk.

The HobbyKing Avro Lancaster V3

If you want a piece of this exciting history in your room or hangar, then the H-King (PNF) Avro Lancaster V3 will not disappoint. This electric RC foam plane comes pre-painted with scale panel lines, factory-applied decals, and pre-installed motors, ESCs and servos. Scale 3 blade propellers with spinners and molded cowlings finish off the Lancaster's stunning scale detail which makes this a practical, must-have model for any scale or warbird enthusiasts.

---

Hear it First: Join our Mailing List

Sign up to receive new product updates, exclusive discounts, news, and more!