One of my first documentaries from the early nineties I believe. Excellent footage of the Lancaster and narrated by Michael Dean who had the finest narration voice.
My Father was an Australian Pilot at that squadron being an Australian (Apparently the poms would not let us fly with anyone except other Australians) He had survived 60 bomb runs and signed up for a third season, against advice, then being shot up by fighters on the way home had a couple of engines on fire coming back over the channel and crashed into a forest near the coast. When the coast watch and local fire brigade arrived found my dad still going back in the burning wreck to save surviving crew. He wasn't allowed to bomb Germans anymore but they found him a job flight testing some of the later Mk. Spitfires. He enjoyed just going up with a full load of everything and use it all up in terrifying ways like a real fighter has to in a dog fight. He came back sort of OK but he was severely 'Shell Shocked. and obsessive compulsive about double checking (twice) all the power & gas & locks coming and going. Something to do with not having a co-pilot to assist.
Hi Greg Warren. You've been mis-informed about Australians not being allow to fly with Poms, etc. in WWII. Many RAF crews were multi-national. See www.nottinghamshire.gov.uk/culture-leisure/heritage/world-war-ii . If you're interested in learning more about how Commonwealth countries participated in bomber squadrons read the Wikipedia article on "Article XV Squadrons". Many aircrew trained under this Agreement served in mixed nationality crews. Much respect to all Australians and all Commonwealth Nations who fought to rid the world of the tyranny, genocide and aggression of Germany and Japan in WWII; many of whom died far from home and their loved ones. Lest We Forget.
I can guarantee you that you are mistaken. I was just reading on the Pathfinders webpage yesterday, and there were numerous Australians, New Zealanders, Rhodesians, Canadians and others sprinkled among the crews at random. I remember them specifically highlighting one crew list and writing "Aus." next to the name of the missing crew man. So that part is certainly not true.
My great uncle (English) was in a crew of 5 Brits and 2 Aussies. The pilot and Flight engineer were Australian. They were shot down in June 1944; only the flight engineer survived.
My uncle Bill Winchester ( New Zealander) survived three tours( 90 missions) as a pilot with a mixed squadron of Lancasters winning his DFC before going over to fighters.
My Grandfather was an engineers fitter, working at the Avro factory in Yeadon, Leeds. My friend's father was a bomb aimer in a Lancaster. Thank you for posting. This has to be the best documentary on Lancasters I've seen.
There is a new Lancaster Documentary that has just come out. There are interviews and commentary from the last surviving flight crew. It is a really great and emotional documentary.
I remember cutting the report of the previous day's 'last Lancaster flight' from the 'Telegraph' on 16/10/56. She was reduced to produce at Wroughton MU near Swindon (now Science Museum repository). Strangely enough, that date was the day a future wife was born.
commenting before watching later, Any chance Chadderton near Manchester gets a mention in this? i live there about a mile from an old Avro factory where they built a lot of the Lancasters.
@@larry4789 is there a way to find out which ones were built there? i have a distant relative, Great Grandads half brother or something, that flew in one, got shot down over Germany. i know which Lanc he was in, would be interesting to see if it was built at chadderton.
@@markorollo. I've replied twice now with links to sites where you'll be able to find out Aircrew and the Aircraft. But my replies have disappeared ???
@@markorollo. OK. One of the sites is owned by Mark Hanson. Air crew names, ops, Lancaster serial numbers and their fates are all on his site. Good luck.
They didn't form up in predetermined formations. It was dark. If you flew in bomber command, you flew alone and often wouldn't see another aircraft even on a big raid. If you did see another Lanc, you were too damn close for comfort.
Each aircraft had a arrival time over the target , and any navigator arriving early would get an endorsement in his log book. its was vital that strict procedure was adhered too , Bear in mind with that the stream consisting of various types , with Lancasters able to bomb from the highest altitude and Stirlings at the lowest .
Indeed, my late father was a wireless operator on 35 sqdn, pathfinder force and time on target was critical especially for those marking for main force.
@@johngrantham8024 Something else you should consider, during the war years Britain kept double summer time , in the summer months it would still be light very late. Squadrons would depart in twilight and find darkness over the North Sea . I remember as a kid one summers evening 3 0r 4 years after the war , hundreds of bombers massing directly over my home town . Very recognition flares being fired as the different groups formatted. Only an exercise , but very impressive.
I love the British documentaries - not the 'We were the heroes' USA tubes, again and again.' I think most Germans pilots thought the same.There was respect in a certain sense.
My father was a mid-upper gunner on a Lancaster Pathfinder. He and his crew flew more than 60 missions over occupied Europe, and more than once they only made it back from a mission because the Lancaster was built so well.
@@davidyoung5114 Which Squadron was your father with David ?? 60 ops is good going and he's got my upmost respect. My dad was a rear gunner with 61 Squadron and transferred to 83 Squadron after Victory in Europe to join Tiger Force.
It depends on when this was filmed as the Canadian Lancaster wasn't air worthy before 1988. Just checked the BBMF website, where they have potted histories of all their aircraft including the markings carried. Their Lancaster carried the letters AJ-G (Wing Commander Guy Gibson's aircraft) between 1979 and 1983 after maintenance it emerged in 1984 as a 101 Squadron aircraft SR-D. Therefore, the comments about being the only flying Lancaster are correct.
I saw both these aircraft fly together when the Canadian one flew over here. It was an incredibly moving sight. Can't wait to see 'Just Jane' fly. That'll make three airworthy Lancasters. Incidentally my Grandmother on my dad's side worked for AVRO at Yeadon building Lancasters.
Oh Yeah... The Locals Just don't get it! But looking at the tiny Jet (?) plane I wonder what the point was, to fly some thing using the new German tencnology.
Can't understand why anyone would give this fascinating piece of history a thumbs down. Let's look forward to a third flying example soon and we'll done Canada for sorting the 2nd example 👍
Thank you so very much for posting this! I haven’t seen this video for about 25 yrs when VHS was king. My father would’ve turned 97 tomorrow ( 28/11/23 ) was a member of 467 SQN at Waddington when the BBC filmed this. Thanks again!
It's the style of music I remember from growing up in the 60s and 70s, when many Pinewood and Elstree films used similar upbeat folksy classical music in their scores. Very evocative.
my uncle was a tail end charlie , 33 missions in the Queen of the Heavies . RCAF 1939-46. Bombing germany was hell . Bombing germany at night was dining with the devil himself in hell .
Wonderful documentary with well researched, clearly explained facts and use of the correct terminology. So unlike today's TV docs full of opinions rather than facts, endless repetition to expand 20 minutes of documentary into a 60 minute programme, and narrators who don't seem to have a clue about the subject - but they look good on TV and that is what is important!
when I saw the battle of Britain flight some years ago i was struck by how plodding and vulnerable the Lanc looked next to the buzzing, darting fighters. gave me a stab of fear to think of flying to Berlin and back in it.
The Avro Lancaster - a lasting testament to solid British engineering. Thank you so much for uploading this very informative documentary. Let us not forget the sacrifice of all those men who were given the task of bringing an end to Nazi terror. Not a nice job but it was total war brought on by Hitler.
I think on take off the rear gunner turned his turret sideways, not to avoid pointing his guns at the following Lancaster but to enable him to escape if anything happened on take off as they had to turn the turret to open the doors to get out if they could not evacuate in the normal fashion!
A cousin the same thing. His Wellington was shot down over Belgium in 1942 and I got to visit his and crew mates graves 3 yrs ago in Warnant and was given parts of their plane as mementos. Very touching........... 419 Squadron.
@@bodieofci5418 When the Russian army arrived in Germany many women drowned themselves in the river Weser. Adolf and Mussulini were morally corrupt retards.
'GH' "Of the 38 Lancaster II's thus equipped, 15 attacked the works according to plan, 16 found their sets to be unserviceable and joined the main attack on the city, 5 returned early and 2 were shot down. Photographs taken after the raid showed that half of the bombs aimed by means of 'GH' had fallen within half a mile of the aiming point. It was thereafter used more and more with increasing effect. By October, 1944, most of the Lancasters of No. 3 Group had been equipped with this important new aid." page 15 (actually 14) Hyperwar Royal Air Force 1939-1945 Vol III
Avro 683 Avro Lancaster B.III This variant, which was built concurrently with the B.I and was indistinguishable externally apart from being fitted with Packard Merlin engines. The Packard Merlin used Bendix-Stromberg pressure-injection carburettors requiring the addition of slow-running cut-off switches in the cockpit. BAE Lancaster page
nick danger That is a fact the Brits refuse to accept that Packard built an improved version and supplied so many engines. Packard built M2500 Pt boat engines were also used in the Brits MGB MTB and air sea rescue because the Brits did not have a suitable engine for them thousands of them used !!! Also the 30 some Dam Buster Lancasters were All Mk BIII's with the Packard merlins....wonder why ???
@@wilburfinnigan2142 I suspect because they were more reliable. Only the Brits used both and I am fairly certain if there was something stating Packard engines were not as reliable there would have been something written about it.
42:00 : The AJ-G is Guy Gibson’s Lanky. Stationed at Hamilton Ontario Canada (Mount Hope Airport). One of 2 remaining flying Lancs in the world. Mentioned in the documentary at 42:00 min mark. Go Canadian Warplane Heritage!!!!
I live a half hour from the Canadian warplane heritage museum in Hamilton Ontario. The Lancaster flies most weekends from spring till late fall. They do allow the public to ride in her and many other beautifully restored military aircraft. Such a great museum to visit where people can get close to the aircraft on display and even go inside many of the larger planes.
Great documentary. Interesting comment on the swing to port. I had heard that once before and in conversations with a post-war Lanc pilot, said there really was no swing to port - advanced all throttles unlike Gibson in the Dam Busters film (advanced starboard first). The Stirling on the other hand was a monster. For those who haven't seen the 1944 color film "The Night Bombers" (which are included with more detail here), highly recommended. And if you would like to see NX611 Just Jane on it's 10 year journey to becoming airworthy again, check out Neville Wheeldon's videos - incredible technical detail of what is underneath the skin and how to rebuild a Lanc.
At the time we were all quoting "Never was so much owed by so many to so few" and a short 24 years later we were all quoting "You meet the nicest people on a Honda."
The Möhnesee dam was a day trip for us when I was little, and my dad was stationed in Germany. This film is much better than modern documentaries, whose makers generally want to cram in actors don't know how to wear a uniform properly, or (worse still) reenactors who are too old, overweight and always have completely wrong hairstyles. There was more common sense around and a bit less 'sixth Form dramatic production'. Great video
The following was recently discovered in a very old, dusty, forgotten RAF archive: “In February, 1944, the First Air Board of The Royal Air Ministry, commenced a study under the supervision of Maj. Gen. Alastair Stanley: Various RAF bomber officers were assembled to determine the manner and frequency whereby RAF bombers had been struck by German anti-aircraft guns and by Luftwaffe interceptors. After exhaustive study, it was determined that the bombers were hit more frequently by a factor of three on their Dark Green upper-side parts than on their Dark Earth parts, and more frequently yet on their Matte Black underside parts by a factor of five. A recommendation to the Air Ministry was then made suggesting that all RAF aircraft operating at night over Nazi-controlled territory be henceforth painted Dark Green overall, eliminating all Matte Black and Dark Earth paint entirely in order to reduce such strikes in the future. (see comparison charts annexed hereto) This study was generously submitted to and shared with the U. S. Eighth Army Air Force which, upon further reflection thereof, issued a general order that in order to prevent being struck by German anti-aircraft guns or by Luftwaffe interceptors whatsoever, no paint of any colour (or “color” as the Yanks say it) whatsoever would henceforth be applied to the surfaces of their aircraft.” At least with regard to the American aircraft, this was done. An official report of the result of such has not yet been discovered, but we’re assiduously looking for it. It is not presently known what happened to this study or the people who performed it, but we do know that neither it nor they were, until most recently, ever heard of again.
33:40 Geez, that bomb bay just keeps going and going. Thank you, Bomber Command, from America. Question about how namesmare used - for example, F-Freddie, F for Freddie...why are they spelled and used this way when referring to the name? I was hoping to infer the reasoning with all the reading I've done on the British, but no luck. Is it still in usage to this day?
We used to play in the one at the Oshawa airport. It was sent out west and is not flying. Fun times with my brothers pretending we were the crew bombing Germany. There was also an old Sherman tank we played in too. One of the best bombers in WW2 and one of the worst tanks.
One of the best tanks of WW2, statistically the safest place on the battlefield for an Allied troop was inside of a Sherman tank, they had the highest survivability rate of anyone on the battlefield in the ETO.
Dude, WTF, this is just the exact script from the _Night Bomber_ documentary re-recorded with different footage, black and white instead of color. I just watched that yesterday. I am not sure that this isn't just the original audio put to different footage even. I wouldn't mind that if it was just a way to get _Night Bombers_ up past the copyright people, but what is all this about "one of my first documentaries from the nineties"? That is too much like taking credit for someone elses work.
Perhaps 1% of this impressive lifting capability could have been used to protect the crew, considering that most bombs missed the target by miles at times, I think it's shocking that these brave crews were not provided more protection, and egress provision. I think it was a last vestige of a caste system, where these men were treated as expendable 'subjects', to be dispatched to their fate by a cadre of clueless fops who never worked or worried a day in their lives.
I worked at Woodford Aerodrome 1992-2003 on the Regional Jet programme. So much history there with the Avro Lancaster, Vulcan, Nimrod etc..etc..sadly the old main hangar (seen here in this film) was finally demolished c 10 years ago and the whole site turned into a housing estate.
Felicitaciones muy buen trabajo, la fuerza aerea Argentina tuvo 30 avro Lincoln ,15 lancaster y 2 lancastrian en servicio, el último operó hasta el año 70 ,cuando fueron sustituidos por el canberra ,hoy en día un Lincoln (el único sobreviviente de la fuerza aerea Argentina)esta en un museo ,saludos cordiales desde Argentina
Even though my father's family was on the receiving end of these things, I still admire these planes, and so did he. The Flying Fortress gets a lot of glory, but the Lancaster was the Sledgehammer that brought down the Reich in flames. And somehow, it's radiates that rather brutish task, with a rather brutish look... Yet it's so typical British, and so simple in it's design, a no-nonense plane that was just incredibly good at what it was supposed to do (that's whiping out entire industrial cities and areas) that it almost becomes elegant... In fact, it becomes elegant, if you're an old technology fan. It has, in my eyes, the apitomy of the Heavy Bomber concept in World War II: it's main feature was simply it's massive, single chamber, bomb bay, filled with deadly materials... And that's about it! It stands out as nothing more than that, a Hammer to Beat Back and that's the beauty of it: by cutting down on all other non-essentials, you had a plane that was incredibly strong and could carry massive loads over long distances, from coal to 2 pound incendiary "candles". Nowadays they put all this freakish stuff into a warplane, they try to build these "universal" airplanes, that turn out to be good at nothing but being mediocre, and are slowly forgetting the lessons of the Lancaster or the Mosquito (my 3th favourite plane, after a heavily fought duel between the He-111 and Lancaster for the no.1 spot). And they made a documentary worth the plane, for once no drama about this or that, just a calm, deep but not too deep explanation of the plane, and above all: it's history, it's family tree, it's development, it's ironically "failed" origins and it's 2-engined predecessors also show why this plane came into being. It was a night-bomber, so having a lot of defensive firepower or armour was pretty pointless, since Luftwaffe nightfighters fired 20 and 30mm cannon anyway, and usually by that time, it was too late. A single hit was enough. It's better to have a Flying Sledgehammer than, so you don't need to go back 3-4 times but get the job done in one go. So, maximize bombload, maximize engine power, give it good navigational equipment and even forget about the rest. Anyways, fantastic documentary, a lot of things I didn't knew. Especially liked the short but clear history of British bomber-evolution that's so absent in a lot of other documentaries. It gives you an insight in the thinking of the day was well: "if this is the only weapon that for now we can hit back with, let's keep up the KISS-principle and crank out as many of them" Regards and thx for uploading this!
Well done, thanks for sharing your thoughts. The Lanc' and the Merlin are two of my favorite pieces of technology, even though as an American I have to save room for the underdeveloped Allison.
You always hear about how the Stirling was flawed "because its wingspan was restricted to under 100ft", but it is within a couple feet of the Lancaster and Halifax.
Some fantastic footage included in this. Would you allow any of the clips from this to be used by myself to add to a video I am trying to put together? It's a simple music video in honour of my Grandad, a Sergeant aboard a Lancaster when it was shot down near Munich in 1943. Hope you can help. No worries if not. Steve Dalton
A death trap ... very difficult to get out from if it were serously damaged. Unlike American planes there were no measures taken to increase crew survivabilty when it was designed
john fred The Lancaster was a flying coffin !!! Few ever escaped from a damaged plane !!! Small hatches and the wing spar going through the fuselage made it almost impossible to escape from !!!
how come the lancasters did not have a belly turret many a german attacks knew this hense led too many a lost crew before you even knew it your pumped full of holes.?
Some lancasters were designed with a single 303 browning in the belly...but were removed to accommadate the H2s radar dome. My dad was a flight Engineer on a Lancaster... it had a belly turret (squadron 195 out of Wratting Common)
Obviously a belly turret was not considered necessary at the time, a decision which was to later cost a lot of lives. The Germans actually built their later night fighters (Me110, I think) with four upward firing 20mm cannon, which they used by sneaking up under the Lanc in its blind position, and blowing it to bits with one burst. I think one danger the German crew faced was to make sure they did not hit the bomb load as the explosion could seriously damage their own aircraft. A very dangerous and sad business all around! Lest we forget!!!
I had the privilege of going through the CWPHs Lancaster when it visited Calgary.was amazed how cramped it was. Thank you to RCAF,RAF,RAAF crews who flew in WWII
As an ex RAF armourer, seeing the armourers of bygone days just showed that (turrets aside), their jobs and way of working wasn't so far removed from the armourers of today. And on the subject of turrets, I was given to understand that because of the hydraulic plumbing which gave them the ability to yaw from side to side, was why armourers are known as plumbers.
Fantastic footage...some of the best i have seen of the mighty Lancaster...and of course the brave young men who sacfificed everything for their country...
🙏 my father was a flight engineer on these amazing planes, I’m one very proud daughter
The plane had one big problem in the plane and it was the escape door. They were small and was a big problem if somebody getting out of the plane
You deserve to be proud...
What a hero your father is...
God Bless you both...
💙 FROM 🇬🇧
The chance of returning from a Lancaster mission: 1 in 3 - percentage of volunteers in Lancaster-crews: 100
I have the highest regard for these brave men who saved us . Tam Australia.
Never knew they tested jet engines on the Lanc, just fascinating, thanks for uploading.
My Father was an Australian Pilot at that squadron being an Australian (Apparently the poms would not let us fly with anyone except other Australians) He had survived 60 bomb runs and signed up for a third season, against advice, then being shot up by fighters on the way home had a couple of engines on fire coming back over the channel and crashed into a forest near the coast. When the coast watch and local fire brigade arrived found my dad still going back in the burning wreck to save surviving crew. He wasn't allowed to bomb Germans anymore but they found him a job flight testing some of the later Mk. Spitfires. He enjoyed just going up with a full load of everything and use it all up in terrifying ways like a real fighter has to in a dog fight. He came back sort of OK but he was severely 'Shell Shocked. and obsessive compulsive about double checking (twice) all the power & gas & locks coming and going. Something to do with not having a co-pilot to assist.
Hi Greg Warren. You've been mis-informed about Australians not being allow to fly with Poms, etc. in WWII. Many RAF crews were multi-national. See www.nottinghamshire.gov.uk/culture-leisure/heritage/world-war-ii . If you're interested in learning more about how Commonwealth countries participated in bomber squadrons read the Wikipedia article on "Article XV Squadrons". Many aircrew trained under this Agreement served in mixed nationality crews. Much respect to all Australians and all Commonwealth Nations who fought to rid the world of the tyranny, genocide and aggression of Germany and Japan in WWII; many of whom died far from home and their loved ones. Lest We Forget.
I can guarantee you that you are mistaken. I was just reading on the Pathfinders webpage yesterday, and there were numerous Australians, New Zealanders, Rhodesians, Canadians and others sprinkled among the crews at random. I remember them specifically highlighting one crew list and writing "Aus." next to the name of the missing crew man. So that part is certainly not true.
My great uncle (English) was in a crew of 5 Brits and 2 Aussies. The pilot and Flight engineer were Australian. They were shot down in June 1944; only the flight engineer survived.
One more silly myth.
Every man a volunteer. The bravest of the very brave. Bomber Command still owed their Campaign Medal 76 years later.
I agree! The recognition owed to Bomber Commmand was poor form and needs correction.
@@ronjon7942 Churchill's fault.
My uncle Bill Winchester ( New Zealander) survived three tours( 90 missions) as a pilot with a mixed squadron of Lancasters winning his DFC before going over to fighters.
Excellent film.
I love these old birds. My Dad flew one for the RCAF. 405 MP Squadron out of Summerside, PEI.
Very good, watch till the end..
My Grandfather was an engineers fitter, working at the Avro factory in Yeadon, Leeds. My friend's father was a bomb aimer in a Lancaster. Thank you for posting. This has to be the best documentary on Lancasters I've seen.
Hats off to your grandfather , good man , a “fitter” is a highly skilled engineer 👍 we all owe him a debt of gratitude 🙏
There is a new Lancaster Documentary that has just come out. There are interviews and commentary from the last surviving flight crew. It is a really great and emotional documentary.
Thank You, Dawg!
I remember cutting the report of the previous day's 'last Lancaster flight' from the 'Telegraph' on 16/10/56. She was reduced to produce at Wroughton MU near Swindon (now Science Museum repository). Strangely enough, that date was the day a future wife was born.
commenting before watching later, Any chance Chadderton near Manchester gets a mention in this? i live there about a mile from an old Avro factory where they built a lot of the Lancasters.
Some of the Lancs my dad flew in were made there and his mate out of another crew was an Oldham lad👍
@@larry4789 is there a way to find out which ones were built there? i have a distant relative, Great Grandads half brother or something, that flew in one, got shot down over Germany. i know which Lanc he was in, would be interesting to see if it was built at chadderton.
@@markorollo. I've replied twice now with links to sites where you'll be able to find out Aircrew and the Aircraft.
But my replies have disappeared ???
@@larry4789 I don't think UA-cam allows links in comments.
@@markorollo. OK.
One of the sites is owned by Mark Hanson.
Air crew names, ops, Lancaster serial numbers and their fates are all on his site.
Good luck.
Watching the factory work is interesting: no gloves, hardhats, eye protection or hearing protection.
this is when people used brains
War what a waste of time money people an end to creativity.
theres also an s for sugar in cambra aus
They didn't form up in predetermined formations. It was dark. If you flew in bomber command, you flew alone and often wouldn't see another aircraft even on a big raid. If you did see another Lanc, you were too damn close for comfort.
Each aircraft had a arrival time over the target , and any navigator arriving early would get an endorsement in his log book. its was vital that strict procedure was adhered too , Bear in mind with that the stream consisting of various types , with Lancasters able to bomb from the highest altitude and Stirlings at the lowest .
Indeed, my late father was a wireless operator on 35 sqdn, pathfinder force and time on target was critical especially for those marking for main force.
@@johngrantham8024 Something else you should consider, during the war years Britain kept double summer time , in the summer months it would still be light very late. Squadrons would depart in twilight and find darkness over the North Sea . I remember as a kid one summers evening 3 0r 4 years after the war , hundreds of bombers massing directly over my home town . Very recognition flares being fired as the different groups formatted. Only an exercise , but very impressive.
I love the British documentaries - not the 'We were the heroes' USA tubes, again and again.' I think most Germans pilots thought the same.There was respect in a certain sense.
The best documentary I've seen on the Lancaster. My dad was on P 40s in North Africa alongside B17s,, B24s and RAF bombers.
A most interesting documentary, thank you for posting. My father was a navigator on a Lancaster, it really drives home how brave the crew were.
My father was a mid-upper gunner on a Lancaster Pathfinder. He and his crew flew more than 60 missions over occupied Europe, and more than once they only made it back from a mission because the Lancaster was built so well.
@@davidyoung5114 Which Squadron was your father with David ??
60 ops is good going and he's got my upmost respect.
My dad was a rear gunner with 61 Squadron and transferred to 83 Squadron after Victory in Europe to join Tiger Force.
@Xavier Walker Even the youngest will be around 97 or 98 by now.
The last of my dad's crew died last year aged 99.
A really marvellous documentary. Thank you for putting it on YT.
Construction number 3414, with 4 packard merlins, still flies in Hamilton Ontario Canada ... I’ve seen it multiple times; beautiful to watch
It depends on when this was filmed as the Canadian Lancaster wasn't air worthy before 1988. Just checked the BBMF website, where they have potted histories of all their aircraft including the markings carried. Their Lancaster carried the letters AJ-G (Wing Commander Guy Gibson's aircraft) between 1979 and 1983 after maintenance it emerged in 1984 as a 101 Squadron aircraft SR-D. Therefore, the comments about being the only flying Lancaster are correct.
I saw both these aircraft fly together when the Canadian one flew over here. It was an incredibly moving sight. Can't wait to see 'Just Jane' fly. That'll make three airworthy Lancasters.
Incidentally my Grandmother on my dad's side worked for AVRO at Yeadon building Lancasters.
@@neiloflongbeck5705 AJ - G.
@@timorvet1 sorry for the typo - now corrected
Oh Yeah... The Locals Just don't get it! But looking at the tiny Jet (?) plane I wonder what the point was, to fly some thing using the new German tencnology.
Can't understand why anyone would give this fascinating piece of history a thumbs down. Let's look forward to a third flying example soon and we'll done Canada for sorting the 2nd example 👍
Probably because all the audio is just stolen from various other documentaries with new footage added to it and no credit given.
@@justforever96 yeah I'm sure that's it!😂😂
Thank you so very much for posting this! I haven’t seen this video for about 25 yrs when VHS was king.
My father would’ve turned 97 tomorrow ( 28/11/23 ) was a member of 467 SQN at Waddington when the BBC filmed this.
Thanks again!
Wonderful documentary film. Like the use of Percy Grainger's MOLLY ON THE SHORE at film's end.
It's the style of music I remember from growing up in the 60s and 70s, when many Pinewood and Elstree films used similar upbeat folksy classical music in their scores. Very evocative.
Thanks I was hoping to learn more about this piece. Nice performance of it.
my uncle was a tail end charlie , 33 missions in the Queen of the Heavies . RCAF 1939-46.
Bombing germany was hell . Bombing germany at night was dining with the devil himself in hell .
Wonderful documentary with well researched, clearly explained facts and use of the correct terminology. So unlike today's TV docs full of opinions rather than facts, endless repetition to expand 20 minutes of documentary into a 60 minute programme, and narrators who don't seem to have a clue about the subject - but they look good on TV and that is what is important!
Am always impressed by the bravery of these bomber crews...hats off and greatest respect!!
when I saw the battle of Britain flight some years ago i was struck by how plodding and vulnerable the Lanc looked next to the buzzing, darting fighters. gave me a stab of fear to think of flying to Berlin and back in it.
The Avro Lancaster - a lasting testament to solid British engineering. Thank you so much for uploading this very informative documentary. Let us not forget the sacrifice of all those men who were given the task of bringing an end to Nazi terror. Not a nice job but it was total war brought on by Hitler.
I think on take off the rear gunner turned his turret sideways, not to avoid pointing his guns at the following Lancaster but to enable him to escape if anything happened on take off as they had to turn the turret to open the doors to get out if they could not evacuate in the normal fashion!
My mother's cousin flew Wellingtons, he never returned and has no known grave.
A cousin the same thing. His Wellington was shot down over Belgium in 1942 and I got to visit his and crew mates graves 3 yrs ago in Warnant and was given parts of their plane as mementos. Very touching........... 419 Squadron.
Thanks man. As a German born in 1959 it was interresting to see this film . That plane helped a lot to get rid of Adolf.
Andy Berner. Adolf never saw the devastation of bombed German cities. It was kept from that lunatic.
People forget that the ordinary German people were just as big a victims of that psycho as everyone else was.
@@bodieofci5418 When the Russian army arrived in Germany many women drowned themselves in the river Weser. Adolf and Mussulini were morally corrupt retards.
'GH' "Of the 38 Lancaster II's thus equipped, 15 attacked the works according to plan, 16 found their sets to be unserviceable and joined the main attack on the city, 5 returned early and 2 were shot down. Photographs taken after the raid showed that half of the bombs aimed by means of 'GH' had fallen within half a mile of the aiming point. It was thereafter used more and more with increasing effect. By October, 1944, most of the Lancasters of No. 3 Group had been equipped with this important new aid."
page 15 (actually 14)
Hyperwar Royal Air Force 1939-1945 Vol III
Wonderful documentary of a legendary aircraft. Love the sound of the Merlins!
The Greatest Generation alright! And I am so thankful they were my elders.
Documentaries on World War II aircraft (Spitfires and Lancasters especially) are a dime-a-dozen, but this is without doubt the best I've seen.
Actually Canada has a flyable Lancaster and is working on restoring a second one. In addition they are also restoring a Halifax
Avro 683 Avro Lancaster B.III This variant, which was built concurrently with the B.I and was indistinguishable externally apart from being fitted with Packard Merlin engines. The Packard Merlin used Bendix-Stromberg pressure-injection carburettors requiring the addition of slow-running cut-off switches in the cockpit.
BAE Lancaster page
nick danger That is a fact the Brits refuse to accept that Packard built an improved version and supplied so many engines. Packard built M2500 Pt boat engines were also used in the Brits MGB MTB and air sea rescue because the Brits did not have a suitable engine for them thousands of them used !!! Also the 30 some Dam Buster Lancasters were All Mk BIII's with the Packard merlins....wonder why ???
@@wilburfinnigan2142 I suspect because they were more reliable. Only the Brits used both and I am fairly certain if there was something stating Packard engines were not as reliable there would have been something written about it.
42:00 : The AJ-G is Guy Gibson’s Lanky. Stationed at Hamilton Ontario Canada (Mount Hope Airport). One of 2 remaining flying Lancs in the world. Mentioned in the documentary at 42:00 min mark. Go Canadian Warplane Heritage!!!!
I live a half hour from the Canadian warplane heritage museum in Hamilton Ontario. The Lancaster flies most weekends from spring till late fall. They do allow the public to ride in her and many other beautifully restored military aircraft. Such a great museum to visit where people can get close to the aircraft on display and even go inside many of the larger planes.
Great documentary. Interesting comment on the swing to port. I had heard that once before and in conversations with a post-war Lanc pilot, said there really was no swing to port - advanced all throttles unlike Gibson in the Dam Busters film (advanced starboard first). The Stirling on the other hand was a monster. For those who haven't seen the 1944 color film "The Night Bombers" (which are included with more detail here), highly recommended. And if you would like to see NX611 Just Jane on it's 10 year journey to becoming airworthy again, check out Neville Wheeldon's videos - incredible technical detail of what is underneath the skin and how to rebuild a Lanc.
At the time we were all quoting "Never was so much owed by so many to so few" and a short 24 years later we were all quoting "You meet the nicest people on a Honda."
The Möhnesee dam was a day trip for us when I was little, and my dad was stationed in Germany. This film is much better than modern documentaries, whose makers generally want to cram in actors don't know how to wear a uniform properly, or (worse still) reenactors who are too old, overweight and always have completely wrong hairstyles. There was more common sense around and a bit less 'sixth Form dramatic production'. Great video
Brave men very Brave men
Fantastic! Greatly enjoyed this-thanks for sharing!
Beautiful documentary, thanks so much
Thank you very much for sharing! Great docu. Greets from the Netherlands, T.
Excellent film, many thanks for posting. Best of all, no appalling music-over-narration, the scourge of modern YT "documentaries".
My mother worked on the Lancaster doing wiring at Victory aircraft in Toronto
a Rosie 👍
Wonderful documentary piece. Thank you for posting!
The following was recently discovered in a very old, dusty, forgotten RAF archive:
“In February, 1944, the First Air Board of The Royal Air Ministry, commenced a study under the supervision of Maj. Gen. Alastair Stanley:
Various RAF bomber officers were assembled to determine the manner and frequency whereby RAF bombers had been struck by German anti-aircraft guns and by Luftwaffe interceptors. After exhaustive study, it was determined that the bombers were hit more frequently by a factor of three on their Dark Green upper-side parts than on their Dark Earth parts, and more frequently yet on their Matte Black underside parts by a factor of five. A recommendation to the Air Ministry was then made suggesting that all RAF aircraft operating at night over Nazi-controlled territory be henceforth painted Dark Green overall, eliminating all Matte Black and Dark Earth paint entirely in order to reduce such strikes in the future. (see comparison charts annexed hereto)
This study was generously submitted to and shared with the U. S. Eighth Army Air Force which, upon further reflection thereof, issued a general order that in order to prevent being struck by German anti-aircraft guns or by Luftwaffe interceptors whatsoever, no paint of any colour (or “color” as the Yanks say it) whatsoever would henceforth be applied to the surfaces of their aircraft.”
At least with regard to the American aircraft, this was done. An official report of the result of such has not yet been discovered, but we’re assiduously looking for it. It is not presently known what happened to this study or the people who performed it, but we do know that neither it nor they were, until most recently, ever heard of again.
33:40 Geez, that bomb bay just keeps going and going. Thank you, Bomber Command, from America.
Question about how namesmare used - for example, F-Freddie, F for Freddie...why are they spelled and used this way when referring to the name? I was hoping to infer the reasoning with all the reading I've done on the British, but no luck. Is it still in usage to this day?
We used to play in the one at the Oshawa airport. It was sent out west and is not flying. Fun times with my brothers pretending we were the crew bombing Germany. There was also an old Sherman tank we played in too. One of the best bombers in WW2 and one of the worst tanks.
One of the best tanks of WW2, statistically the safest place on the battlefield for an Allied troop was inside of a Sherman tank, they had the highest survivability rate of anyone on the battlefield in the ETO.
At 33:00 they say bombedier i instantly thought of tthe passenger jets.
Dude, WTF, this is just the exact script from the _Night Bomber_ documentary re-recorded with different footage, black and white instead of color. I just watched that yesterday. I am not sure that this isn't just the original audio put to different footage even. I wouldn't mind that if it was just a way to get _Night Bombers_ up past the copyright people, but what is all this about "one of my first documentaries from the nineties"? That is too much like taking credit for someone elses work.
Escape hatches at 4.00
Freeman Dyson - Problems in bombing policy and aircraft design (38/157) - UA-cam
Perhaps 1% of this impressive lifting capability could have been used to protect the crew, considering that most bombs missed the target by miles at times, I think it's shocking that these brave crews were not provided more protection, and egress provision. I think it was a last vestige of a caste system, where these men were treated as expendable 'subjects', to be dispatched to their fate by a cadre of clueless fops who never worked or worried a day in their lives.
Fantastic!! really enjoyed ! Thank you
Brilliant aircraft and an informative video. Thanks for uploading this gem.
I worked at Woodford Aerodrome 1992-2003 on the Regional Jet programme. So much history there with the Avro Lancaster, Vulcan, Nimrod etc..etc..sadly the old main hangar (seen here in this film) was finally demolished c 10 years ago and the whole site turned into a housing estate.
You don't happen to remember the 603 club do you? A chap called Dougie was the chairman I think.
It's a housing estate now!!....so sad! Same with RAF Scampton!
Felicitaciones muy buen trabajo, la fuerza aerea Argentina tuvo 30 avro Lincoln ,15 lancaster y 2 lancastrian en servicio, el último operó hasta el año 70 ,cuando fueron sustituidos por el canberra ,hoy en día un Lincoln (el único sobreviviente de la fuerza aerea Argentina)esta en un museo ,saludos cordiales desde Argentina
Excellent documentary. I learned much. Thank you!
Good production! Really enjoyed it. Thanks! 🙂
A wonderfully informative documentary. We will remember them...
Really nice and informative documentary. 👍
Why is this film titled "Lancaster" when many others are covered
Operational history of Lancaster 1B R5868 on line
The end of the video shows dual controls. Was this a one off version?
Excellent video documentary
Fantastic doco! Thankyou!
Even though my father's family was on the receiving end of these things, I still admire these planes, and so did he. The Flying Fortress gets a lot of glory, but the Lancaster was the Sledgehammer that brought down the Reich in flames. And somehow, it's radiates that rather brutish task, with a rather brutish look... Yet it's so typical British, and so simple in it's design, a no-nonense plane that was just incredibly good at what it was supposed to do (that's whiping out entire industrial cities and areas) that it almost becomes elegant... In fact, it becomes elegant, if you're an old technology fan. It has, in my eyes, the apitomy of the Heavy Bomber concept in World War II: it's main feature was simply it's massive, single chamber, bomb bay, filled with deadly materials... And that's about it! It stands out as nothing more than that, a Hammer to Beat Back and that's the beauty of it: by cutting down on all other non-essentials, you had a plane that was incredibly strong and could carry massive loads over long distances, from coal to 2 pound incendiary "candles". Nowadays they put all this freakish stuff into a warplane, they try to build these "universal" airplanes, that turn out to be good at nothing but being mediocre, and are slowly forgetting the lessons of the Lancaster or the Mosquito (my 3th favourite plane, after a heavily fought duel between the He-111 and Lancaster for the no.1 spot).
And they made a documentary worth the plane, for once no drama about this or that, just a calm, deep but not too deep explanation of the plane, and above all: it's history, it's family tree, it's development, it's ironically "failed" origins and it's 2-engined predecessors also show why this plane came into being. It was a night-bomber, so having a lot of defensive firepower or armour was pretty pointless, since Luftwaffe nightfighters fired 20 and 30mm cannon anyway, and usually by that time, it was too late. A single hit was enough. It's better to have a Flying Sledgehammer than, so you don't need to go back 3-4 times but get the job done in one go. So, maximize bombload, maximize engine power, give it good navigational equipment and even forget about the rest.
Anyways, fantastic documentary, a lot of things I didn't knew. Especially liked the short but clear history of British bomber-evolution that's so absent in a lot of other documentaries. It gives you an insight in the thinking of the day was well: "if this is the only weapon that for now we can hit back with, let's keep up the KISS-principle and crank out as many of them"
Regards and thx for uploading this!
Well done, thanks for sharing your thoughts. The Lanc' and the Merlin are two of my favorite pieces of technology, even though as an American I have to save room for the underdeveloped Allison.
@@ronjon7942 Don't forget that 1/3 of all merlins made were made by Packard in America, and about 1/2 of all Lancasters used the Packard Merlins !!
Great post, thank you 227beau
Excellent documentary. I'm surprised the ol' Avro Shakleton diddnt get a mench!
Had this on VHS. The Shackleton was a separate VHS by the same company, called 'Shackleton- End of an era', which I also had.
Seen 2 Lancasters up close at motat in aukland and Australian war museum Canberra
Great tribute to crew’s and Lancaster.
Thanks for the upload. Had this on VHS back in the day, recorded from the BBC back when they had programmes worth watching.
You always hear about how the Stirling was flawed "because its wingspan was restricted to under 100ft", but it is within a couple feet of the Lancaster and Halifax.
Some fantastic footage included in this. Would you allow any of the clips from this to be used by myself to add to a video I am trying to put together? It's a simple music video in honour of my Grandad, a Sergeant aboard a Lancaster when it was shot down near Munich in 1943.
Hope you can help. No worries if not.
Steve Dalton
Thus was filmed before end of the 1983 display season as the BBMF Lancaster last wore the markings AJ-G in 1983.
Great documentary about a well engineered plane developed in the U.K.. Any idea who produced this film?
That plane needed at least .50 cals, not .30s
I love the LANC BOMBER,,,
Great documentary love seeing the later marks
A death trap ... very difficult to get out from if it were serously damaged. Unlike American planes there were no measures taken to increase crew survivabilty when it was designed
Just curious, have you ever heard of or watched this wee vid ' Hiroshima 1945 - british atomic attack'.
Much like the Sherman tank, The "Tommy Cooker" No plane was easy to get out of when in a spinning dive burning from stem to stern!
Main spar and smaller size of the forward escape hatch made the Halifax more survivable according to some recent stats.
john fred The Lancaster was a flying coffin !!! Few ever escaped from a damaged plane !!! Small hatches and the wing spar going through the fuselage made it almost impossible to escape from !!!
how come the lancasters did not have a belly turret many a german attacks knew this hense led too many a lost crew before you even knew it your pumped full of holes.?
Some lancasters were designed with a single 303 browning in the belly...but were removed to accommadate the H2s radar dome. My dad was a flight Engineer on a Lancaster... it had a belly turret (squadron 195 out of Wratting Common)
I’ve never seen a picture of a Lancaster with the ventral machine gun in place... not sure how common it was
Obviously a belly turret was not considered necessary at the time, a decision which was to later cost a lot of lives. The Germans actually
built their later night fighters (Me110, I think) with four upward firing 20mm cannon, which they used by sneaking up under the Lanc in
its blind position, and blowing it to bits with one burst.
I think one danger the German crew faced was to make sure they did not hit the bomb load as the explosion could seriously damage
their own aircraft.
A very dangerous and sad business all around!
Lest we forget!!!
22:00, so many bombs!
Stuka
Whirlwind
I had the privilege of going through the CWPHs Lancaster when it visited Calgary.was amazed how cramped it was. Thank you to RCAF,RAF,RAAF crews who flew in WWII
As an ex RAF armourer, seeing the armourers of bygone days just showed that (turrets aside), their jobs and way of working wasn't so far removed from the armourers of today. And on the subject of turrets, I was given to understand that because of the hydraulic plumbing which gave them the ability to yaw from side to side, was why armourers are known as plumbers.
Does anyone know where to find all this footage narration free??
Amazing for it's time ... Good job
I AM THE ONE + FRE IS HE
I like & love the LANC BOMBER,,
This is really fascinating ! I hope the world does not forget the bravery and hard, hard work of all those associated with this remarkable aircraft.
Great documentary.
My uncle was in the 617 squadron and was shot down , ended up in a pow camp and escaped!!
Very proud of him.
Really enjoyed !
i visit the airborne museum in Nanton A lberta, Canada, a amazing airplane Lancaster was there in the hangaar ,
Splendid.
Documentary must be from 1982 since that year gets mentioned about last Lanc in the charge of the RAF.
Fantastic footage...some of the best i have seen of the mighty Lancaster...and of course the brave young men who sacfificed everything for their country...