AVRO 683 Lancaster-Post War

(Monochrome Photograph showing - French Aéronavale Lancaster WU-01.)

After the war the Lancaster continued in RAF service in a variety of roles and a large number of Canadian built machines were re-patriated.

An overseas market was found for some late production machines. The first customer was the Argentine Air Force (AF.) who bought 15 Mk.Is followed by the Egyptian AF. who acquired nine. The Swedish AF. bought one to use as a test bed for their Stal Dovern jet engine and finally the French Naval Air Arm bought a total of 54 aircraft for use in North Africa and New Caledonia in the South Pacific.

In Bomber Command the Lancaster was retired and replaced by the Lincoln in December 1953. However, with the departure of Lend-Lease Liberators from the R.A.F. after the war, the Lancaster had become the principal land-based maritime reconnaissance aircraft of Coastal Command until it was superseded by the Avro Shackleton.

The last Lancaster in service was RF325 of the School of Maritime Reconnaissance stationed at St. Mawgan in Cornwall and after a short ceremony on 15 October 1956 the aircraft was flown away to be scrapped.

(Monochrome Photograph showing - The last RAF Lancaster - An unceremonious ending to a magnificent career!)