Avro Lancaster KB882; Coming in From the Cold?

War History Online ^ | March 7, 2015

[Squawk 8888]

Last year, there was a brief stir concerning the plight of a rare combat veteran Avro Lancaster on outdoor display at Madawaska Municipal Airport in the Canadian city of Edmunston, New Brunswick. The city has owned Lancaster Mk.10P KB882 since her RCAF retirement in 1964.

The Lancaster’s condition has deteriorated significantly after decades sitting outdoors, and a time of reckoning has arrived. While a small band of dedicated volunteers has done their best to preserve and maintain the old bomber, they do not have the resources to ensure her long term survival without a massive infusion of cash and expertise to both get the aircraft indoors and carry out her restoration. The city which saved this precious artifact fifty years ago doesn’t appear to have the funds either, and now must determine what is best for KB882′s future, even if that means a painful decision to relinquish their ownership. WarbirdsNews has learned from our colleague, Benoit de Mulder who maintains the excellent aircraft manual website Avialogs.com, that Edmundston city council now has four proposals before them concerning KB882′s future. They will be releasing their decision within the next week or so, but given the facts already available, it seems very likely that KB882 will be moving to a new home in another city before too long. WarbirdsNews will of course be reporting on this decision when we learn the details, but in the meantime we thought you would enjoy Benoit de Mulder’s description of KB882′s remarkable history.

[Squawk 8888]

To all- please ping me to Canadian topics.

Canada Ping!

[biff]

I think one of these things sat here in Midland, Tx at the Confederate Air Force for a couple of years and was eventually flown out to someplace else. It was a coastal patrol version with torpedo bomb bay.

They had about twice the armament capability than the B-17 and quiet a bit longer range. Was an impressive airplane.

[smokingfrog]

Lancaster Mk 10P KB882 was built by Victory Aircraft in 1945 and delivered to Britain, the aircraft joined No. 428 Squadron RCAF in March of that year. Flown on six operational sorties over Germany, the aircraft was returned to Canada in June 1945 and entered storage. In 1952, the aircraft was modified to Mk 10P configuration and flew with No. 408 Squadron RCAF. In 1964, the aircraft was purchased by the City of Edmundston, New Brunswick and has since been on outside display at the Municipal Airport. As of 2014, this aircraft is in urgent need of repair.

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/edmundston-s-lancaster-bomber-headed-for-rough-landing-1.2626764

[jumpingcholla34]

Marvelous airplane. I understand British heavy bombers in WWII didn’t carry co-pilots. Can anyone confirm?

[Oatka]

Those Lancaster crews really took a beating. According to the site below "3,249 Lancasters were lost on operations. Each Lancaster carried 7 crewmen. Even though mostly flown at night the ability of the German night-fighter pilots were so good that only 35 Lancasters completed more than 100 successful operations."

Selected Equipment Loss Statistics World War II.

[NFHale]

Wow... neat old bird.

If machines could talk...

American B17s and B24s by Day, the British Lancasters and Halifaxes by Night. Round the clock air war against the might of the German Luftwaffe.

Thanks for posting.

[MasterGunner01]

As I recall, the typical Lancaster crew was seven men:

1. Bomb aimer, front turret gunner.
2. Pilot (left side of cockpit).
3. Flight engineer (right side of cockpit in back of pilot),
4. Radio operator.
5. Navigator.
6. Top turret gunner.
7. Rear turret gunner.

Lancaster bombers were prodigious weight lifters, but they were grossly deficient in armament. The three power turrets on the Lanc only carried eight .303 caliber guns (late war Lancs replaced the for .393 guns in the rear turret with two .50 guns), There was no protection at all for the bomber's vulnerable belly.

In comparison, neither the American B-17 or B-24 could carry the Lancaster's bomb load, but both were very well armed. There were 12 to 13 guns on the B-17 and 10 guns on the B-14. All guns were caliber .50. Both American aircraft carried a crew of 10.

1. Bombardier, nose gunner.
2. Navigator.
3. Pilot.
4. Copilot.
5. Top turret, flight engineer.
7. Ball turret gunner.
8. Waist gunners (2).
9. Tail gunner.

[jmacusa]

The Lancaster wasn’t equipped with a ball turret gun position. Nor did if have a gun position in the radio operators station. The B-17 had both. The Lancaster was a good aircraft and could carry very heavy bomb loads.

[publius911]

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