AVRO 683 Lancaster-Mighty Bomb Carrier

(Monochrome Photograph showing - The Lancaster's incredible bomb-carrying capacity is shown here with a 4.000 lb. 'Cookie', three 1,000 lb., and 24 250 lb., bombs plus six incendiary canisters.)

The capacious bomb-bay inherited from the Manchester was designed from the outset to carry 4,000lb. bombs, but few foresaw the day that this feature would enable the Lancaster to become the only bomber capable of carrying the gigantic 22,000lb. (10,000 Kg.) 'Grand Slam' bomb which had such important results in the later stages of the war.

Other famous Lancaster raids included the celebrated 'Dam Busters' attack on the great Ruhr dams carried out by No.617 Sqn., on 17 May 1943 and, later, the bombing of Friedrichshafen by Nos. 57 and 97 Squadrons in June 1943 with the Lancasters flying across Europe to North Africa to refuel.

On 12 November 1944 came one of the greatest triumphs when aircraft from Nos. 9 and 617 Squadrons sank the giant German Tirpitz in a Norwegian fjord using 12,000lb.(5,450 Kg.) 'Tallboy' bombs.

The largest of all, the 22,000lb. (10,000Kg.) 'Grand Slam' destroyed the Bielefeld Viaduct in March 1945 and besides the major contribution to the night bombing campaign; Lancasters helped to turn the tide of the invasion, by attacking German armies in the field during tactical sorties over Normandy.

One of the last, and certainly one of the most satisfactory raids for Lancaster crews, was the bombing of Hitler's retreat at Berchtesgaden in April 1945.

(Monochrome Photograph showing - The ultimate in conventional bombs was the 'Grand Slam' a 20,000 lb. (10,000 kg.) weapon seen here being dropped from a specially modified Lancaster of No.617 Squadron.)