Thursday 6 August 2009

A Lancaster Bomber

On Tuesday I went to the Western Canadian Aviation Museum to see one of the last two remaining Lancaster bombers used in World War ll for night bombings over Germany.
The rear gunner would have occupied this turret, dressed in a heated suit to avoid frostbite and hypothermia.
The open bomb bay with attachments for the payload.
The turret for the mid upper gunner.
The position of the bomb aimer, who had two roles. He would sight through the perspex bubble to aim the bombs and to assist the navigator. He could also man the front guns situated above.

Entry to the plane could be made through the nose of the plane. The ladder ended at the bomb aimer's cupola, just under the seat of the flight engineer.
The view through the bomb aimer's gun turret.
The pilot's seat on the left and the flight engineer's seat on the right.
.Peeking out the navigator's astrodome toward the rear of the aircraft.
The plane was not designed for comfort or ease of movement. The wing spars passed through the plane, making it difficult to move from one end to the other.
The navigator and radio operator sat in this section.
An insiders view of the mid upper gunner's turret.
And, just as you are to leave thru' the rear starboard exit, a glance toward the rear gunner's turret.

I cannot imagine the courage required to fly in one of these machines. According to R. a fellow with whom I work, the men who fought in these aircraft considered themselves dead anyway and it enabled them to get on with the job at hand.

1 comment:

  1. Thanks Sox for posting the pictures. I found it very moving to touch this piece of history after having the opportunity to work with a few of those men who were fortunate to live through those difficult days.

    May we never forget. R

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