Avro Lancaster Combat Legend

Author : Harry Holmes
Publisher : Crowood Press UK
Page : 0 pages
File Size : 46,5 Mb
Release : 2005-06-24
Category : History
ISBN : 1840373768

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Avro Lancaster -Combat Legend by Harry Holmes Pdf

The Lancaster heavy bomber was one of the most powerful and revered aircraft of World War II. Its ability to carry heavy bomb loads through the night skies of Europe is legendary and its use by No 617 Squadron on the famous 'Dambusters' raid ensured it a prime position in aviation history. The airplane was a direct four-engined development of the Avro Manchester. The success was due to the idea of Avro's chief designer, Tom Chadwick, to marry the strong airframe of the Manchester with the newly designed Rolls Royce Merlin engine. The resulting airplane eventually carried the heaviest bomb dropped during the war, the 22,000-pound 'Grand Slam'. 7,366 Lancasters were built. They flew 156,000 sorties and dropped 608,612 tons of bombs during the war. This is the perfect introductory book for the general reader, enthusiast and modeler alike wishing to find a succinct yet detailed introduction to the design and history of the Avro Lancaster. Why was the aircraft conceived? What was it like to fly on a mission? Who were the people who designed it and became famous for flying it? What were its virtues and vices? These and many more questions are answered here, plus a host of illustrations that show variations of color schemes used in different operational theatres and rare photographs taken when the heat was on.

Author : Leo McKinstry
Publisher : John Murray
Page : 592 pages
File Size : 40,9 Mb
Release : 2009-09-03
Category : History
ISBN : 9781848543553

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Lancaster by Leo McKinstry Pdf

The Spitfire and the Lancaster were the two RAF weapons of victory in the Second World War, but the glamour of the fighter has tended to overshadow the performance of the heavy bomber. Yet without the Lancaster, Britain would never have been able to take the fight to the German homeland. Highlights the scale of the bomber?s achievements, including the famous Dambusters attacks. With its vast bomb bay, ease of handling and surprising speed, the mighty Lancaster transformed the effectiveness of the Bomber Command. Whilst addressing the political controversy surrounding the bombing offensive against Germany, Leo McKinstry also weaves individual tales into this compelling narrative. Rich characters are brought to life, such as Roy Chadwick the designer, who taught himself engineering at night school and Sir Arthur Harris, the austere head of the Bomber Command. This is a rich saga, a story of triumph over disaster and the history of an iconic plane.

Author : Anonim
Publisher : Unknown
Page : 264 pages
File Size : 47,8 Mb
Release : 2004
Category : Fighter planes
ISBN : IND:30000107657516

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Air Combat Legends: Supermarine Spitfire, Messerschmitt Bf109 by Anonim Pdf

Author : Frank Pleszak
Publisher : Air World
Page : 369 pages
File Size : 54,8 Mb
Release : 2022-05-12
Category : Biography & Autobiography
ISBN : 9781399097475

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The High Peak Dambuster by Frank Pleszak Pdf

Operation Chastise, the audacious attack on the dams in the Ruhr valley, is arguably one of the most famous airborne attacks in history. During the night of 16/17 May 1943, 133 men in nineteen specially-adapted Lancasters – the famous Dambusters – set off to attack six dams deep in the heart of Germany. Eight of the bombers, and 56 of the aircrew, did not come home. Three of the aircrew who took part were from the High Peak region of Derbyshire. Flight Lieutenant Bill Astell, the pilot of ED864 who hailed from Coombs near Chapel-en-le-Frith, was killed after flying into electricity pylons on the way to the dams. The navigator in ED924, Sergeant John Nugent, from Stoney Middleton, survived the Dambusters Raid but was killed later in the war. The third High Peak Dambuster, on whom this biography concentrates, is the little-known Sergeant Jack Marriott from Chinley, the flight engineer on Lancaster ED937 during the attack. Marriott’s Lancaster, Z-Zebra, reached the Möhne Dam, only to discover that it had been breached, some five bouncing bombs already having been released at it. The crew, led by Squadron Leader Henry Maudslay DFC, then flew on to the Eder Dam where their ‘bouncing bomb’ exploded beneath the Lancaster after hitting the parapet of the structure. The damaged Lancaster struggled homeward, but was shot down on the Dutch border; Jack, together with his crew, was killed in the crash. In this autobiography, Frank Pleszak explores Jack’s life, his RAF service prior to joining 617 Squadron, and then the events leading up to and during Operation Chastise itself. But for Jack, one the immortal Dambusters, his story continued on after that historic night – particularly during the filming of the 1955 epic Dam Busters in which his aircraft features.

Author : Robert Kirby
Publisher : Unknown
Page : 509 pages
File Size : 46,8 Mb
Release : 2015
Category : Manchester (Bomber)
ISBN : 1781552851

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Avro Manchester by Robert Kirby Pdf

This is the definitive account of the Avro Manchester based upon detailed research by Dr Robert Kirby. This new and greatly expanded edition follows on from Dr Kirby's original edition of 1995, containing 30 per cent of additional text and is richly illustrated with more than 200 black and white photographs. In the early dark days of the Second World War, RAF Bomber Command was obliged to operate for 18 months deep into occupied Europe with the underdeveloped, Rolls-Royce Vulture-powered Avro Manchester. It was the largest and only Allied bomber to use the Vulture operationally. This account draws out, chronologically, the airframe and engine development intermixed with personal experiences from pilots and other personnel. Early evolution was protracted, and unrealistic multiple roles were abandoned. All flying surfaces required extension to provide an adequate flight envelope and progress was further set back by severe Vulture problems. Avro Manchesters entered squadron service without significant type-testing being undertaken and in the first eight months witnessed four groundings. Rolls-Royce themselves contributed this illuminating aspect. Eventually, seven RAF squadrons, using 202 Manchesters with 538 Vultures contributed 1,260 sorties, mainly day and night bombing and mining. A contrasted highlight is the stunning aircrew accounts, fearful of weather, flak and fighters, but perpetually nursing and cajoling their temperamental Vultures through hostile skies. Through the narrative several threads reveal the ultimate wisdom of persisting with a type which ultimately blossomed into the 'war-winning' Lancaster. The book also included fascinating reviews of second line duties and six appendices provide essential reference.REVIEWS offers anecdotes from former crew members about harrowing ordeals over enemy territory, as well as flying the unreliable bomber in non combat situations. This is undoubtedly the definitive history of its less than legendary subject and it's a must for those interested in reading about the challenges that the bomber command facedAviation History July 2016

Author : John Nichol
Publisher : Simon and Schuster
Page : 543 pages
File Size : 40,5 Mb
Release : 2020-05-28
Category : History
ISBN : 9781471180484

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Lancaster by John Nichol Pdf

'The epic story of an iconic aircraft and the breathtaking courage of those who flew her' Andy McNab, bestselling author of Bravo Two Zero 'Compelling, thrilling and rooted in quite extraordinary human drama' James Holland, author of Normandy 44 From John Nichol, the Sunday Times bestselling author of Spitfire, comes a passionate and profoundly moving tribute to the Lancaster bomber, its heroic crews and the men and women who kept her airborne during the country's greatest hour of need. 'The Avro Lancaster is an aviation icon; revered, romanticised, loved. Without her, and the bravery of those who flew her, the freedom we enjoy today would not exist.' Sir Arthur Harris, the controversial chief of Royal Air Force Bomber Command, described the Lancaster as his 'shining sword' and the 'greatest single factor in winning the war'. RAF bomber squadrons carried out offensive operations from the first day of the Second World War until the very last, more than five and a half years later. They flew nearly 300,000 sorties and dropped around a million tons of explosives, as well as life-saving supplies. Over 10,000 of their aircraft never returned. Of the 7,377 Lancasters built during the conflict, more than half were lost to enemy action or training accidents. The human cost was staggering. Of the 125,000 men who served in Bomber Command, over 55,000 were killed and another 8,400 were wounded. Some 10,000 survived being shot down, only to become prisoners of war. In simple, brutal terms, Harris's aircrew had only a 40 per cent chance of surviving the war unscathed. Former RAF Tornado Navigator, Gulf War veteran and bestselling author John Nichol now tells the inspiring and moving story of this legendary aircraft that took the fight deep into the heart of Nazi Germany.

Author : Jarrod Cotter,Paul Blackah
Publisher : Haynes Publishing UK
Page : 0 pages
File Size : 48,6 Mb
Release : 2008-07-15
Category : Transportation
ISBN : 1844254631

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Avro Lancaster Manual by Jarrod Cotter,Paul Blackah Pdf

The legendary Avro Lancaster receives the famous Haynes manual treatment with the full co-operation and authorization of the Royal Air Force. Here is a unique perspective on what it takes to restore and operate a Lancaster, as well as a wonderful insight into the engineering and construction of this remarkable airplane. Presented mainly in color, this highly detailed and attractively designed book is based primarily around the major overhaul of the Battle of Britain Flight Lancaster at RAF Coningsby.

Author : Bloomsbury Publishing
Publisher : Bloomsbury Publishing
Page : 146 pages
File Size : 48,6 Mb
Release : 2017-04-20
Category : History
ISBN : 9781472819406

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Lancaster by Bloomsbury Publishing Pdf

The star of the famous 'Dambusters' raid, the Avro Lancaster also formed the backbone of the RAF's Bomber Command during the large-scale night bombing campaign against occupied Europe during World War II. Unable to hit back on the ground, with the Lancaster, Britain could take the fight to Germany. This complete illustrated guide to one of Britain's most iconic aircraft explores its history, strengths, weaknesses and combat performance in the war that would make it legendary. Featuring stunning artwork and contemporary photographs, this book reveals how the Lancaster became the RAF's most successful heavy bomber of the war, and a symbol of British resistance and air power.

Author : Steven Taylor
Publisher : Air World
Page : 282 pages
File Size : 43,5 Mb
Release : 2024-05-30
Category : History
ISBN : 9781399036979

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Combat in the Stratosphere by Steven Taylor Pdf

In the summer of 1940, a new German aircraft began appearing in the skies over the British Isles. Unlike the rest of the Luftwaffe’s fleet in the Battle of Britain, these aircraft were flying at a height of 40,000 feet and higher – way beyond the reach of the RAF’s defending fighters. These virtually untouchable intruders were examples of the Junkers Ju 86P. The world’s first operational combat aeroplane equipped with a pressurized cabin, they were able to reach a maximum altitude of 42,000 feet. The Ju 86P’s introduction ushered in a new era of aerial warfare, where combat would take place at previously unimaginable heights. The Ju 86P was just one of many high-altitude aircraft projects developed by both the Axis and Allied powers during the Second World War. Others included the Vickers Wellington Mk.VI, Vickers Windsor, Boeing B-29 Superfortress, Junkers Ju 388, Heinkel He 274 and Henschel Hs 130. With pressurized cabins, such aircraft offered obvious tactical advantages: bombers and reconnaissance aircraft could operate safely above the maximum ceiling of the opposing side’s fighters, prompting intense development – especially by the British and Germans – of pressurized interceptors to meet the threat they posed. Combat in the Stratosphere is the first book devoted exclusively to exploring the fascinating story of the development and operational history of aircraft designed specifically for high-altitude operations during the Second World War. But this is not a book solely about the machines themselves. It also focuses on the men who flew these revolutionary aircraft, both in the testing phase and in combat, and the physical challenges these courageous airmen faced, as they pushed themselves to the very edge of physical endurance in this desperate race to reach ever higher altitudes. Drawing on a wide range of sources, including air combat reports, British Cabinet files and Air Ministry documents, as well as first-hand accounts of aeronautical engineers and the pilots who flew these aircraft, Combat in the Stratosphere reveals the full story of this largely overlooked aspect of Second World War air warfare, high above the skies of Europe, North Africa, the Soviet Union and Japan.

Author : Paul Crickmore
Publisher : Airlife Publishing
Page : 100 pages
File Size : 42,6 Mb
Release : 2003
Category : History
ISBN : IND:30000112565332

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F-117 Nighthawk by Paul Crickmore Pdf

The F-117 has proved itself to be an important weapon whenever the US Air Force is called into action. This volume profiles this American stealth aircraft.

Author : Robert Kirby
Publisher : Fonthill Media
Page : 128 pages
File Size : 53,6 Mb
Release : 2017-05-17
Category : History
ISBN : 8210379456XXX

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The Avro Manchester by Robert Kirby Pdf

In its earliest, dark days, Bomber Command operated deep into occupied Europe with the underdeveloped Avro Manchester. Powered by the Rolls Royce Vulture, it was the only British aircraft to use this engine operationally. The design was revised and amended several times, with three enlargements of the flying surfaces required to provide an adequate flight envelope. Nevertheless, Manchesters entered service without adequate type-testing, leading to four groundings in the first ten months of use. Aircrews were faced with airframe and engine challenges, and the Manchester continued to evolve as the war was being fought. Despite this, seven RAF squadrons would eventually use 202 Manchesters (with 538 Vultures) on 1,260 sorties. Manchesters may have contributed to Bomber Command failures (as set out in the Butt Report of August 1941), but they also contributed to its success in denying German capital ships the naval base at Brest. Bomber Command’s persistence with the type was soon shown to be wise, as the Manchester was developed into the famous and war-winning Avro Lancaster. This second edition of The Avro Manchester: The Legend Behind the Lancaster retains the keen analysis and gripping narrative of the first, but it also fills many gaps, revises key passages, and provides six appendices for references. It is richly illustrated with 200 images, many of which are previously unpublished. Illustrations: 190 black-and-white photographs

Author : Ron Mackay
Publisher : Schiffer Military History
Page : 112 pages
File Size : 45,5 Mb
Release : 2019-11-28
Category : History
ISBN : 0764358456

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Avro Lancaster by Ron Mackay Pdf

The Avro Lancaster was the Royal Air Force's main four-engine bomber in World War II. Its superb design, overall performance, and load-carrying capacity proved key factors in successfully prosecuting the nocturnal bombing offensive against Hitler's industrial and military base. With its ability to carry up to 16,000 pounds in explosives and incendiaries, specialist Lancasters could also deliver the 12,000-pound "Tallboy" and 22,000-pound "Grand Slam" bombs that took out key targets. The Lancaster was also featured in the classic 1955 British film The Dam Busters, the story of the famed May 1943 low-level bombing raid in Germany's Ruhr River valley. By the end of the war, upward of sixty squadrons operated the Lancaster, demonstrating clear proof of its preeminent presence within the RAF's offensive. Part of the Legends of Warfare series.

Author : Gordon A. A. Wilson
Publisher : Amberley Publishing Limited
Page : 753 pages
File Size : 43,7 Mb
Release : 2015-11-15
Category : History
ISBN : 9781445634272

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The Lancaster by Gordon A. A. Wilson Pdf

A stunning illustrated history of the most famous Second World War RAF bomber.

Author : Rick Radell,Mike Vines
Publisher : Osprey Publishing Company
Page : 128 pages
File Size : 55,8 Mb
Release : 1993
Category : Airplanes, Military
ISBN : 1855322676

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Lancaster by Rick Radell,Mike Vines Pdf

Author : Jarrod Cotter,Paul Blackah MBE
Publisher : Haynes Publishing UK
Page : 0 pages
File Size : 52,9 Mb
Release : 2016-02-15
Category : Transportation
ISBN : 0857338307

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Avro Lancaster Manual 1941 onwards (all marks) by Jarrod Cotter,Paul Blackah MBE Pdf

The legendary Avro Lancaster receives the famous Haynes Manual treatment with the full co-operation and authorisation of the Royal Air Force. Here is a unique perspective on what it takes to restore and operate a Lancaster, as well as a wonderful insight into the engineering and construction of this remarkable aeroplane. This highly detailed book is based primarily on the Battle of Britain Flight's Lancaster at RAF Coningsby.