To Keep Them Flying
Updated: September 2008
To allow one Lancaster Bomber to be made ready for each operational raid it took the effort of some thirty-eight (38) personnel.
7 – aircrew (pilot, flight engineer, navigator, bomb aimer, wireless operator, mid-upper gunner, rear gunner)
1 = Flying Control Officer
2 – Assistant Flying Control Offices (usually WAAF’s)
1 – Parachute Packer (usually WAAF)
1 – Airman/women to drive and operate the Oil Tanker
2 – Airman/women to drive and operator the 2500 gallon Petrol Bowser
7 – Armourers to prepare, transport the bomb train and then load into the aircraft
1 – Tractor drive to pull the bomb train to the aircraft (often a WAAF)
8 – Ground flight mechanics (up to 8)
7 – Specialists to service the radar, wireless, etc system (Up to 7)
1 – Meteorologist (Weather man)
Lancaster's shown taxiing along a peri-track preparing for take-off to attack Berlin 26/27 November 1943