Description
The Avro Lancaster is the aircraft most associated with the heroic efforts of Bomber Command in World War II. During the course of the war, the Lancaster force flew more than 600,000 tons of bombs in 156,000 sorties.
Developed from the twin-engined Avro Manchester, the Lancaster's design was so essentially 'right' from its first flight that there were only a few developments of the basic bomber, which proved itself capable of employing ever more sophisticated bombing aids for the delivery of ever-larger weapons, culminating in the 9979kg (22,000lb) 'Grand Slam', the largest single bomb dropped by the British in World War II.
This book traces the development and operational record of the Lancaster, from first-line bomber service in World War II to later developments including the Lincoln bomber, York and Lancastrian transports, and the Shackleton maritime reconnaissance aircraft, which itself evolved into an airborne early warning aircraft that remained in service up to 1992.
With over 110 colour and black-and-white photographs and artworks illustrating the Lancaster in action and from all angles, this book tells the spectacular and enthralling story of this legendary aircraft, and of the men who flew it to victory.
