David Pentland .com Home Page
Order Helpline (UK) : 01436 820269

You currently have no items in your basket

Join us on Facebook!

Payment Options Display
Buy with confidence and security!
Publishing historical art since 1985

Follow us on Twitter!
FANTASTIC SAVINGS ON ORIGINAL PAINTINGS BY DAVID PENTLAND   -   MAKE US AN OFFER !
Aircraft
Search
Squadron
Search
Signature
Search
Tank
Search
Special
Offers

Product Search         
CLICK HERE FOR A FULL LIST OF ALL DAVID PENTLAND PRINTS BY TITLE
ALWAYS GREAT OFFERS :
20% FURTHER PRICE REDUCTIONS ON HUNDREDS OF LIMITED EDITION ART PRINTS
BUY ONE GET ONE HALF PRICE ON THOUSANDS OF PAINTINGS AND PRINTS
FOR MORE OFFERS SIGN UP TO OUR FREE NEWSLETTER
Flt Lt George Harris DFC (deceased) - Art prints and originals signed by Flt Lt George Harris DFC (deceased)

George Harris

No Photo Available
The signature of Flt Lt George Harris DFC (deceased)

17 / 1 / 2018Died : 17 / 1 / 2018

Flt Lt George Harris DFC (deceased)

George Harris went to an Operational Training Unit flying old Wellingtons and, on his last flight of the course, a night practice bombing and fighter affiliation trip, suffered an engine fire just after take-off. He came down in darkness in Sherwood Forest and came to in hospital. A wooden propeller had shattered on impact, sheared through the airframe and his seat, taking a slice out of his back and leaving him with several broken ribs, a punctured lung and lacerated kidney. His parents were warned he may not survive but within six weeks he was flying again, back in Wellingtons, then on Halifaxes, before finally moving on to Lancasters and a posting, along with three other crews, to No 1 Group 101 Squadron in Ludford Magna, Lincolnshire. It had taken three years of training and frustration and now he and his crew were replacements for those recently killed in action. The squadron's Lancasters were equipped with the radio jamming system known as the Airborne Cigar, or ABC. It covered the frequencies used by the Luftwaffe but its presence also deprived them of a vital navigational aid which heightened their vulnerability. On average only one in four crews survived and that was the case with those Harris had been posted with: all were lost, the first on its first operation. His missions ranged from major night attacks on Germany and tactical support attacks on German troop strongholds, communication centres, V-1 flying bomb sites and airfields in France and the Low Countries. He was subsequently invited to take his crew to the Pathfinder Force but turned down the opportunity as it would have meant leaving behind his German-speaking Special Operator, which he felt was wrong. Anyway, he regarded 101 as a very special squadron with huge spirit and said the Lancaster was 'a simply splendid' aircraft to fly. Among his hair-raising exploits were coping with another engine fire – resulting in an emergency landing on three engines with a full bomb load – braving electric storms which could throw the Lancasters around like corks and dodging the searchlights above enemy territory. On one occasion, returning from a night raid on Brunswick on 12th August 1944, the searchlights locked on him and he desperately performed a violent corkscrew manoeuvre to escape the beams. Failing to shake them off, he dived at full bore with a full bomb load, descending so rapidly the navigator said he had exceeded the plane's reported break-up speed. The slipstream and engine noise was like a banshee, he recalled. Miraculously they remained in one piece to tell the tale and, after debrief, took an idyllic stroll back to their quarters as the sun rose and the dawn chorus began. That night 24 of their men did not return and 101 maintained its reputation as a 'chop' squadron. Reflecting on the end of his operational tour with his Lancaster Z-Zebra, he said he felt strangely flat, rather old and empty but had gained much, including the sheer freedom and joy of flying, the magic of cloud hopping and, as a flight commander, the responsibility for life and death decisions over other men. His award of the DFC, for valour in the face of the enemy, was announced in February 1945. Seventy years later he received the Legion D'honneur for his part in the operations to liberate Caen. After the war he completed a BA in modern languages and economics at St John's College, Cambridge and took posts at Liverpool and Glasgow universities before moving to the Mobil Oil Company in 1954. Four years later he joined PA Management Consultants and in 1967 established executive search company Canny Bowen and Associates, the UK arm of the US firm Canny Bowen, undertaking searches at chairman, managing director and director level for major British and international companies. George died on 17th January 2018 in Tunbridge Wells, aged 95.

Latest Flt Lt George Harris DFC (deceased) Signed Artwork Releases !
 Lancaster LM360, piloted by Bill Reid, is raked by fire from stem to stern by a Luftwaffe Fw190 fighter.  Bill Reid had already sustained injuries to his head, torso and hands from a previous attack by an Me110, but, with this rest of his crew unscathed from the previous attack, he had not mentioned his injuries.  In the attack depicted here, the Fw190 makes a lethal attack on the already damaged bomber, killing one crew member and fatally wounding a second.  Despite this, Bill Reid flew on to his target of Dusseldorf - a further 200 miles - successfully dropped his bombs, then turned for home.  With the aid of the bomb aimer and flight engineer, the Lancaster made it across the Channel and headed for an airfield, with one leg of the damaged undercarriage failing on landing.  Bill Reid was awarded the Victoria Cross for this mission.

Bill Reid VC by Graeme Lothian. (P)
Lancaster CF-X (LM384) of 625 Squadron.  On the Leipzig raid on the evening of 19th/20th February 1944 approx 47 Lancasters were shot down or failed to return, that is over 300 airmen.  Lancaster CF-X (LM384) was taking part in the bombing raids that were a build up to the D-Day landings of June 1944.  Leipzig was seen as a high value target due to its oil and synthetic fuel production.  The Lancaster took off from Kelstern in Lincolnshire just before midnight.  Unfortunately LM384 did not come back as was the case with many others - the aircraft was lost and crashed just outside the tiny village of Bledeln in Germany.  The Pastor of the village, Herr Duncker, kept a diary throughout the war and has an account of the plane crash and the subsequent burial of the crew.  All of the crew died in the crash except one - bomb aimer George Paterson who was interned in Stalag 357 Kopernikus.  The rest of the crew were given a Christian burial and stayed there until the end of the war, when the war graves commission disinterred the crew and reburied them in the Hannover war cemetery.

Last Long Shadow by Anthony Saunders. (B)
Lancasters of 61 Squadron  head out for the enemy coast during the night of 3rd November 1943.  Seen in the lead Lancaster is Flt Lt Bill Reid flying QR-O.  After sustaining two heavy attacks by enemy night fighters, killing two crew members and injuring Reid in the head, shoulders and hands.  He carried on to the target, dropping accurately his bomb load.  Navigating back by Pole Star and Moon, he lost consciousness on occasions due to blood loss.  He managed to find his way Shipdharn.  Upon landing the undercarriage collapsed but luckily did not catch fire.  For his exploits that night he was awarded the Victoria Cross.

Lancaster VC by Graeme Lothian. (AP)
Crew of Lancasters 101 Squadron RAF, stand chatting and drinking cups of tea supplied by the WMCA vans.  Delays in Ops for an hour or so allow the crews a chance to light up and have a cup of tea.  101 Squadron based at Ludford Magna were a squadron with a difference, from 1943 the Lancasters were fitted with special radio jamming equipment known as ABC or AirBorne Cigar and carried an eighth crew member known as the special duties operator.  Squadron letters were SR and targeted by the Luftwaffe fighters giving 101 Squadron the highest casualty rating in Bomber Command.

Crewing Up by Graeme Lothian (AP)

Items Signed by Flt Lt George Harris DFC (deceased)

 Lancaster LM360, piloted by Bill Reid, is raked by fire from stem to stern by a Luftwaffe Fw190 fighter.  Bill Reid had already sustained injuries to his head, torso and hands from a previous attack by an Me110, but, with this rest of his crew unsca......
Bill Reid VC by Graeme Lothian. (P)
Price : £500.00
Lancaster LM360, piloted by Bill Reid, is raked by fire from stem to stern by a Luftwaffe Fw190 fighter. Bill Reid had already sustained injuries to his head, torso and hands from a previous attack by an Me110, but, with this rest of his crew unsca......

Quantity:
Lancaster CF-X (LM384) of 625 Squadron.  On the Leipzig raid on the evening of 19th/20th February 1944 approx 47 Lancasters were shot down or failed to return, that is over 300 airmen.  Lancaster CF-X (LM384) was taking part in the bombing raids that......
Last Long Shadow by Anthony Saunders (AP)
Price : £60.00
Lancaster CF-X (LM384) of 625 Squadron. On the Leipzig raid on the evening of 19th/20th February 1944 approx 47 Lancasters were shot down or failed to return, that is over 300 airmen. Lancaster CF-X (LM384) was taking part in the bombing raids that......

Quantity:
Lancaster CF-X (LM384) of 625 Squadron.  On the Leipzig raid on the evening of 19th/20th February 1944 approx 47 Lancasters were shot down or failed to return, that is over 300 airmen.  Lancaster CF-X (LM384) was taking part in the bombing raids that......
Last Long Shadow by Anthony Saunders. (B)
Price : £50.00
Lancaster CF-X (LM384) of 625 Squadron. On the Leipzig raid on the evening of 19th/20th February 1944 approx 47 Lancasters were shot down or failed to return, that is over 300 airmen. Lancaster CF-X (LM384) was taking part in the bombing raids that......

Quantity:
Depicts a 103 squadron Lancaster returning from a night-time bombing mission. ......
Lancaster Dawn by Anthony Saunders. (F)
Price : £100.00
Depicts a 103 squadron Lancaster returning from a night-time bombing mission. ......

Quantity:
On an RAF airfield in the early evening, a squadron of Lancaster bombers of Bomber Command prepare for another bombing sortie against targets of the German war machine.  A fitting tribute to all Bomber Command aircrew who flew in the Avro Lancatser.......
Distant Dispersal by Graeme Lothian. (AP)
Price : £140.00
On an RAF airfield in the early evening, a squadron of Lancaster bombers of Bomber Command prepare for another bombing sortie against targets of the German war machine. A fitting tribute to all Bomber Command aircrew who flew in the Avro Lancatser.......

Quantity:
On an RAF airfield in the early evening, a squadron of Lancaster bombers of Bomber Command prepare for another bombing sortie against targets of the German war machine.  A fitting tribute to all Bomber Command aircrew who flew in the Avro Lancatser.......
Distant Dispersal by Graeme Lothian (B)
Price : £100.00
On an RAF airfield in the early evening, a squadron of Lancaster bombers of Bomber Command prepare for another bombing sortie against targets of the German war machine. A fitting tribute to all Bomber Command aircrew who flew in the Avro Lancatser.......

Quantity:
On an RAF airfield in the early evening, a squadron of Lancaster bombers of Bomber Command prepare for another bombing sortie against targets of the German war machine.  A fitting tribute to all Bomber Command aircrew who flew in the Avro Lancatser.......
Distant Dispersal by Graeme Lothian. (C)
Price : £135.00
On an RAF airfield in the early evening, a squadron of Lancaster bombers of Bomber Command prepare for another bombing sortie against targets of the German war machine. A fitting tribute to all Bomber Command aircrew who flew in the Avro Lancatser.......

Quantity:
Lancasters of 61 Squadron  head out for the enemy coast during the night of 3rd November 1943.  Seen in the lead Lancaster is Flt Lt Bill Reid flying QR-O.  After sustaining two heavy attacks by enemy night fighters, killing two crew members and inju......
Lancaster VC by Graeme Lothian.
Price : £125.00
Lancasters of 61 Squadron head out for the enemy coast during the night of 3rd November 1943. Seen in the lead Lancaster is Flt Lt Bill Reid flying QR-O. After sustaining two heavy attacks by enemy night fighters, killing two crew members and inju......

Quantity:
Lancasters of 61 Squadron  head out for the enemy coast during the night of 3rd November 1943.  Seen in the lead Lancaster is Flt Lt Bill Reid flying QR-O.  After sustaining two heavy attacks by enemy night fighters, killing two crew members and inju......
Lancaster VC by Graeme Lothian. (AP)
Price : £180.00
Lancasters of 61 Squadron head out for the enemy coast during the night of 3rd November 1943. Seen in the lead Lancaster is Flt Lt Bill Reid flying QR-O. After sustaining two heavy attacks by enemy night fighters, killing two crew members and inju......

Quantity:
Lancasters of 61 Squadron  head out for the enemy coast during the night of 3rd November 1943.  Seen in the lead Lancaster is Flt Lt Bill Reid flying QR-O.  After sustaining two heavy attacks by enemy night fighters, killing two crew members and inju......
Lancaster VC by Graeme Lothian. (P)
Price : £2800.00
Lancasters of 61 Squadron head out for the enemy coast during the night of 3rd November 1943. Seen in the lead Lancaster is Flt Lt Bill Reid flying QR-O. After sustaining two heavy attacks by enemy night fighters, killing two crew members and inju......

Quantity:
  R5689 (VN-N) - a Lancaster B.1 of 50 Squadron based at Swinderby. This aircraft crash-landed in Lincolnshire while returning from a mission on 19th September 1942, after both port engines failed as the aircraft was preparing to land.  The aircraft ......
Avro Lancaster B.1 by Ivan Berryman. (AP)
Price : £120.00
R5689 (VN-N) - a Lancaster B.1 of 50 Squadron based at Swinderby. This aircraft crash-landed in Lincolnshire while returning from a mission on 19th September 1942, after both port engines failed as the aircraft was preparing to land. The aircraft ......

Quantity:
 R5689 (VN-N) - a Lancaster B.1 of 50 Squadron based at Swinderby. This aircraft crash-landed in Lincolnshire while returning from a mission on 19th September 1942, after both port engines failed as the aircraft was preparing to land.  The aircraft n......
Avro Lancaster B.1 by Ivan Berryman. (C)
Price : £120.00
R5689 (VN-N) - a Lancaster B.1 of 50 Squadron based at Swinderby. This aircraft crash-landed in Lincolnshire while returning from a mission on 19th September 1942, after both port engines failed as the aircraft was preparing to land. The aircraft n......

Quantity:
 Lancaster V-RA, with its young Canadian crew, flew just a handful of operations. On the night of June 12, 1944, it was set afire by a JU88, forcing the crew to bale out. Seeing the rear gunner trapped Pilot Officer Andrew Mynarski vainly braved the ......
Mynarskis Lanc by Nicolas Trudgian. (B)
Price : £100.00
Lancaster V-RA, with its young Canadian crew, flew just a handful of operations. On the night of June 12, 1944, it was set afire by a JU88, forcing the crew to bale out. Seeing the rear gunner trapped Pilot Officer Andrew Mynarski vainly braved the ......

Quantity:
 Spitfires from 144 Wing RCAF 2nd TAF led by W/c Johnnie Johnson. Supplying air cover to a mixed force of 942 bombers over Normandy on Operation Goodwood, 18th July 1944. SR-Z of 101 (Special) squadron. Lancasters piloted by Flt Lt George Harris DFC.......
Returning from Caen by Graeme Lothian.
Price : £260.00
Spitfires from 144 Wing RCAF 2nd TAF led by W/c Johnnie Johnson. Supplying air cover to a mixed force of 942 bombers over Normandy on Operation Goodwood, 18th July 1944. SR-Z of 101 (Special) squadron. Lancasters piloted by Flt Lt George Harris DFC.......

Quantity:
 Spitfires from 144 Wing RCAF 2nd TAF led by W/c Johnnie Johnson. Supplying air cover to a mixed force of 942 bombers over Normandy on Operation Goodwood, 18th July 1944. SR-Z of 101 (Special) squadron. Lancasters piloted by Flt Lt George Harris DFC.......
Returning from Caen by Graeme Lothian. (XX)
Price : £130.00
Spitfires from 144 Wing RCAF 2nd TAF led by W/c Johnnie Johnson. Supplying air cover to a mixed force of 942 bombers over Normandy on Operation Goodwood, 18th July 1944. SR-Z of 101 (Special) squadron. Lancasters piloted by Flt Lt George Harris DFC.......

Quantity:
Spitfires from 144 Wing RCAF 2nd TAF led by W/c Johnnie Johnson. Supplying air cover to a mixed force of 942 bombers over Normandy on Operation Goodwood, 18th July 1944. SR-Z of 101 (Special) squadron. Lancasters piloted by Flt Lt George Harris DFC. ......
Returning from Caen by Graeme Lothian. (Y)
SOLD OUT
Spitfires from 144 Wing RCAF 2nd TAF led by W/c Johnnie Johnson. Supplying air cover to a mixed force of 942 bombers over Normandy on Operation Goodwood, 18th July 1944. SR-Z of 101 (Special) squadron. Lancasters piloted by Flt Lt George Harris DFC. ......NOT
AVAILABLE
Crew of Lancasters 101 Squadron RAF, stand chatting and drinking cups of tea supplied by the WMCA vans.  Delays in Ops for an hour or so allow the crews a chance to light up and have a cup of tea.  101 Squadron based at Ludford Magna were a squadron ......
Crewing Up by Graeme Lothian.
Price : £135.00
Crew of Lancasters 101 Squadron RAF, stand chatting and drinking cups of tea supplied by the WMCA vans. Delays in Ops for an hour or so allow the crews a chance to light up and have a cup of tea. 101 Squadron based at Ludford Magna were a squadron ......

Quantity:
Crew of Lancasters 101 Squadron RAF, stand chatting and drinking cups of tea supplied by the WMCA vans.  Delays in Ops for an hour or so allow the crews a chance to light up and have a cup of tea.  101 Squadron based at Ludford Magna were a squadron ......
Crewing Up by Graeme Lothian (AP)
Price : £175.00
Crew of Lancasters 101 Squadron RAF, stand chatting and drinking cups of tea supplied by the WMCA vans. Delays in Ops for an hour or so allow the crews a chance to light up and have a cup of tea. 101 Squadron based at Ludford Magna were a squadron ......

Quantity:

Packs with at least one item featuring the signature of Flt Lt George Harris DFC (deceased)


Four WW2 aircraft prints.
Pack Price : £520.00
Saving : £340
Aviation Print Pack. ......

Titles in this pack :

High Summer by Anthony Saunders. (AP)
Lancaster Dawn by Anthony Saunders. (F)
Homeward Bound by Anthony Saunders. (AP)
Head to Head by Nicolas Trudgian. (B)

Quantity:

Aircrew Signed Lancaster Aviation Prints.
Pack Price : £240.00
Saving : £210
Aviation Print Pack. ......

Titles in this pack :

Distant Dispersal by Graeme Lothian. (C)
One Hundred Up! by Simon Atack.
Operation Manna by Ivan Berryman.

Quantity:

Bomber Command Signature Prints.
Pack Price : £165.00
Saving : £245
Aviation Print Pack. ......

Titles in this pack :

Lancaster Dawn by Anthony Saunders. (F)
Fear Nothing by Anthony Saunders.
Hurricane Mk.IIC by Ivan Berryman. (F)

Quantity:
Pack 517. Pack of two RAF Lancaster aviation art prints by Robert Taylor and Graeme Lothian.
Pack Price : £260.00
Saving : £150
Aviation Print Pack. ......

Titles in this pack :

No Turning Back by Robert Taylor.
Distant Dispersal by Graeme Lothian (B)

Quantity:
Pack 540. Pack of two D-Day Normandy aviation prints by Nicolas Trudgian.
Pack Price : £215.00
Saving : £255
Aviation Print Pack. ......

Titles in this pack :

D-Day Armada by Nicolas Trudgian.
Returning from Caen by Graeme Lothian.

Quantity:
Pack 784. Pack of two WW2 classic RAF aircraft prints by Anthony Saunders.
Pack Price : £220.00
Saving : £155
Aviation Print Pack. ......

Titles in this pack :

High Summer by Anthony Saunders. (AP)
Lancaster Dawn by Anthony Saunders. (F)

Quantity:
WW2 Bomber Command Lancaster Aviation Prints by Robert Taylor and Graeme Lothian.
Pack Price : £245.00
Saving : £155
Aviation Print Pack. ......

Titles in this pack :

Winter Ops by Gerald Coulson.
Distant Dispersal by Graeme Lothian. (C)

Quantity:
WW2 Avro Lancaster Prints by Graeme Lothian and Simon Smith.
Pack Price : £215.00
Saving : £155
Aviation Print Pack. ......

Titles in this pack :

Distant Dispersal by Graeme Lothian. (C)
The Shining Sword by Simon Smith.

Quantity:
Lancaster Bomber Print Pack by Graeme Lothian and Nicolas Trudgian.
Pack Price : £300.00
Saving : £160
Aviation Print Pack. ......

Titles in this pack :

Distant Dispersal by Graeme Lothian. (C)
Bomber Force by Nicolas Trudgian.

Quantity:
WW2 Lancaster Bomber Signature Aviation Prints by Graeme Lothian and David Pentland.
Pack Price : £220.00
Saving : £115
Aviation Print Pack. ......

Titles in this pack :

Distant Dispersal by Graeme Lothian. (C)
Jet Attack by David Pentland. (F)

Quantity:
WW2 Avro Lancaster Aviation Prints by Robert Taylor and Graeme Lothian.
Pack Price : £290.00
Saving : £240
Aviation Print Pack. ......

Titles in this pack :

Distant Dispersal by Graeme Lothian. (C)
Strike and Return by Robert Taylor.

Quantity:
Crew Signed Lancaster Aircraft Print Pack by Graeme Lothian and Gerald Coulson.
Pack Price : £225.00
Saving : £155
Aviation Print Pack. ......

Titles in this pack :

Distant Dispersal by Graeme Lothian. (C)
Summer Harvest by Gerald Coulson.

Quantity:
Crew Signed Avro Lancaster Prints by Anthony Saunders.
Pack Price : £145.00
Saving : £145
Aviation Print Pack. ......

Titles in this pack :

Lancaster Dawn by Anthony Saunders. (F)
Last Long Shadow by Anthony Saunders. (B)

Quantity:
Crew Signature Lancaster Bomber Prints by Anthony Saunders and Philip West.
Pack Price : £185.00
Saving : £255
Aviation Print Pack. ......

Titles in this pack :

Lancaster Dawn by Anthony Saunders. (F)
A Winters Dawn by Philip West.

Quantity:
WW2 Avro Lancaster Prints by Graeme Lothian and Anthony Saunders.
Pack Price : £180.00
Saving : £150
Aviation Print Pack. ......

Titles in this pack :

Lancaster Dawn by Anthony Saunders. (F)
Distant Dispersal by Graeme Lothian. (E)

Quantity:
Lancaster Bomber Prints with Crew Signatures by Anthony Saunders and Graeme Lothian.
Pack Price : £210.00
Saving : £120
Aviation Print Pack. ......

Titles in this pack :

Lancaster Dawn by Anthony Saunders. (F)
Lancaster VC by Graeme Lothian.

Quantity:
Signed Avro Lancaster Prints by Philip West and Anthony Saunders.
Pack Price : £245.00
Saving : £95
Aviation Print Pack. ......

Titles in this pack :

Lancaster Dawn by Anthony Saunders. (F)
Almost Home by Philip West.

Quantity:
Crew Signature Lancaster Bomber Prints by Anthony Saunders and Graeme Lothian.
Pack Price : £225.00
Saving : £115
Aviation Print Pack. ......

Titles in this pack :

Lancaster Dawn by Anthony Saunders. (F)
Crewing Up by Graeme Lothian.

Quantity:
Avro Lancaster Crew Signature Prints by Graeme Lothian and Philip West.
Pack Price : £190.00
Saving : £210
Aviation Print Pack. ......

Titles in this pack :

Crewing Up by Graeme Lothian.
A Winters Dawn by Philip West.

Quantity:
Bomber Command Signed Prints by Graeme Lothian.
Pack Price : £180.00
Saving : £110
Aviation Print Pack. ......

Titles in this pack :

Crewing Up by Graeme Lothian.
Distant Dispersal by Graeme Lothian. (E)

Quantity:
Crew Signature Lancaster Bomber Print Pack by Graeme Lothian.
Pack Price : £220.00
Saving : £70
Aviation Print Pack. ......

Titles in this pack :

Crewing Up by Graeme Lothian.
Lancaster VC by Graeme Lothian.

Quantity:
Avro Lancaster Aviation Art Prints by Stephen Brown and Ivan Berryman.
Pack Price : £210.00
Saving : £180
Aviation Print Pack. ......

Titles in this pack :

Welcome Home by Stephen Brown.
Avro Lancaster B.1 by Ivan Berryman. (AP)

Quantity:
Lancaster Bomber Aviation Art Prints by Ivan Berryman and Simon Smith.
Pack Price : £200.00
Saving : £100
Aviation Print Pack. ......

Titles in this pack :

Mission Completed by Simon Smith.
Avro Lancaster B.1 by Ivan Berryman. (AP)

Quantity:
Flt Lt George Harris DFC (deceased)


Flt Lt George Harris DFC
Squadron details



Flt Lt George Harris DFC
Aircraft details




Lancaster
Manufacturer : Avro
Built : 7377


Lancaster
The Avro Lancaster arose from the avro Manchester and the first prototype Lancaster was a converted Manchester with four engines. The Lancaster was first flown in January 1941, and started operations in March 1942. By March 1945 The Royal Air Force had 56 squadrons of Lancasters with the first squadron equipped being No.44 Squadron. During World War Two the Avro Lancaster flew 156,000 sorties and dropped 618,378 tonnes of bombs between 1942 and 1945. Lancaster Bomberss took part in the devastating round-the-clock raids on Hamburg during Air Marshall Harris' "Operation Gomorrah" in July 1943. Just 35 Lancasters completed more than 100 successful operations each, and 3,249 were lost in action. The most successful survivor completed 139 operations, and the Lancaster was scrapped after the war in 1947. A few Lancasters were converted into tankers and the two tanker aircraft were joined by another converted Lancaster and were used in the Berlin Airlift, achieving 757 tanker sorties. A famous Lancaster bombing raid was the 1943 mission, codenamed Operation Chastise, to destroy the dams of the Ruhr Valley. The operation was carried out by 617 Squadron in modified Mk IIIs carrying special drum shaped bouncing bombs designed by Barnes Wallis. Also famous was a series of Lancaster attacks using Tallboy bombs against the German battleship Tirpitz, which first disabled and later sank the ship. The Lancaster bomber was the basis of the new Avro Lincoln bomber, initially known as the Lancaster IV and Lancaster V. (Becoming Lincoln B1 and B2 respectively.) Their Lancastrian airliner was also based on the Lancaster but was not very successful. Other developments were the Avro York and the successful Shackleton which continued in airborne early warning service up to 1992.

Contact Details
Shipping Info
Terms and Conditions
Cookie Policy
Privacy Policy

Join us on Facebook!

Sign Up To Our Newsletter!

Stay up to date with all our latest offers, deals and events as well as new releases and exclusive subscriber content!

This website is owned by Cranston Fine Arts.  Torwood House, Torwoodhill Road, Rhu, Helensburgh, Scotland, G848LE

Contact: Tel: (+44) (0) 1436 820269.  Email: cranstonorders -at- outlook.com

Follow us on Twitter!

Return to Home Page