AVRO 685 York in the War

(Monochrome Photograph showing - York CI MW168 soon after delivery.)

During the Second World War the requirement for a long-range load carrying transport aircraft was met by the Avro Company as a private venture with the design of the Avro 685 York. As all materials were required for the production of bomber and fighter aircraft, it was agreed that the transport types would be supplied by the U.S.A.

As the Avro Lancaster was highly successful and in demand by R.A.F. Bomber Command, chief designer Roy Chadwick conceived the idea of using the bomber's wings, engines and tail unit fitted to a large square fuselage would be suitable for use in the transport role. Only five months after conception, the first York made its first flight from the Company's Experimental Section at Ringway on 5 July 1942.

The Lancaster's twin fins were soon added to by a large central fin to compensate for the large side area of the new fuselage. Trials were so successful that three more prototypes were ordered, each of which had a different configuration including VIP, freighting and paratrooping aircraft and a large production order was later received from the Ministry of Supply.

The safety and reliability of the York saw the aeroplane being selected as a VIP aircraft for King George VI, Prime Minister Winston (later Sir Winston Churchill) and other famous war leaders to transport them to the many Allied conferences being held throughout the world.

(Monochrome Photograph showing - The third production York CI, which should have been MW103, was diverted from the production line and delivered to British Overseas Airways as G-AGJA for essential civilian use during the Second World War.)