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Aeronavale Lancaster’s

 

Under a Western Union agreement, 58 Lancaster’s were converted to Maritime Reconnaissance standard by Avro’s at Woodford and then transferred to the French Navy (L’Aeronavale) to supplement RAF patrols of the Atlantic and Mediterranean shipping lanes.

 

Lancaster Mk. I

 

PA387 del'd 5-52 Escadrille 55S, 52S. At some point coded WU-25

PA389 del'd 4-52 Escadrille 55S, 10S. At some point coded as WU-24

PA392 del'd 4-53 Flottille 2F, 23F, 24F, 25F, Escadrille 4S, 52S. At some point coded WU-36

PA395 del'd 6-52 Flottille 10F, 24F, Escadrille 55S, 4S, 52S. At some point coded WU-32

PA412 del'd 4-53 Flottille 25F, 2F, 24F, Escadrille 4S, 55S, 52S. At some point coded WU-38

PA416 del'd 3-53 Volant de Reserve, Flottille 23F, 24F, 25F. At some point coded WU-39

PA425 del'd 12-52 Volant de Reserve, Flottille 24F, 25F. At some point coded WU-29

PA426 del'd 7-52 Flottille 23F, 24F, 25F. At some point coded WU-34

PA429 del'd 12-53 Flottille 23F, 25F, Escadrille 55S, 4S, 52S. At some point coded WU-46

PA431 del'd 9-52 Flottille 11F, 24F, Escadrille 10S. At some point coded WU-43

PA432 del'd 6-52 Flottille 10F, 24F, 25F, Escadrille 55S, 4S, 55S. At some point coded WU-40

PA448 del'd 2-53 Flottille 23F, 25F, Escadrille 55S, 4S. At some point coded WU-24

PA452 del'd 2-53 Flottille 23F, 24F, 25F, Escadrille 4S, 55S. At some point coded WU-35

PA477 del'd 6-52 Flottille 10F, 25F, Escadrille 4S, 56S, 52S. At some point coded WU-33

 

RA627 del'd 9-52, unit(s) unknown. At some point coded WU-49

RA787 del'd 2-53, unit(s) unknown. At some point coded WU-30

RA793 del'd 5-53, unit(s) unknown. At some point coded WU-44

RA795 del'd 10-52, unit(s) unknown. At some point coded WU-50

RA796 del'd 10-52, unit(s) unknown. At some point coded WU-51

RA797 del'd 9-52, unit(s) unknown. At some point coded WU-26

RA799 del'd 7-52, unit(s) unknown. At some point coded WU-31

RA800 del'd 7-52, unit(s) unknown. At some point coded WU-51

 

RT682 del'd 2-52, unit(s) unknown. At some point coded WU-04

RT687 del'd 2-52, unit(s) unknown. At some point coded WU-04

RT698 del'd 3-52, unit(s) unknown. At some point coded WU-06

RT699 del'd 3-52, unit(s) unknown. At some point coded WU-07

 

SW297 del'd 1-52, unit(s) unknown. At some point coded WU-02

 

TW658 del'd 12-52, unit(s) unknown. At some point coded WU-28

TW651 del'd 10-52, unit(s) unknown. At some point coded WU-27

TW665 del'd 3-52, unit(s) unknown. At some point coded WU-17

TW915 del'd 7-52, unit(s) unknown. At some point coded WU-42

TW918 del'd 10-53, unit(s) unknown. At some point coded WU-45

TW920 del'd 2-54, unit(s) unknown. At some point coded WU-47

TW921 del'd 8-53, unit(s) unknown. At some point coded WU-47

TW922 del'd 5-53, unit(s) unknown. At some point coded WU-37

TW927 del'd 9-52, unit(s) unknown. At some point coded WU-53

TW928 del'd 8-52, unit(s) unknown. At some point coded WU-41

 

Lancaster Mk. VII

 

NX611 was converted to Maritime Reconnaissance standard by Avro’s at Woodford and collected by a French ferry crew on 30th May 1952. By now painted midnight blue and coded WU15, further modifications included the removal of the mid upper turret, the fitting of an airborne lifeboat and the provision of ASV radar.

 

NX611 del'd 6-52, Flottilles 10F, 24F, 25F, Escadrilles 9s, 52S, 55. At some point coded WU-15
          (Aircraft is on display and can taxi at Lincolnshire Aviation Heritage Centre, East Kirkby)

NX613 del'd 12-51, Forttille 2F, Escradille 10S. At some point coded WU-01

NX615 del’d 5-52, unit(s) unknown. At some point coded WU-12

NX616 del'd 9-52, Forttille 11F, Escadrille 4S, 23S. At some point coded WU-22

NX619 del'd 5-52, unit(s) unknown.At some point coded WU-11

NX620 del'd 8-52, Flottille 23F, Escardrille 10S. At some point coded WU-20

NX621 del'd 7-52 Flottille 11F, Escadrille 25S. At some point coded WU-19

NX622 del'd 6-52 Flottille 24F, 25F, Escadrille 9S. At some point coded WU-16

NX623 del'd 6-52 Flottille 10F, 25F, Escadrille 4S, 55S. At some point coded WU-14

NX627 del'd 4-52 as WU-09, Escdrille 10S, 52S, 55S. At some point coded WU-09

NX639 del'd 10-53, unit(s) unknown.

NX633 del'd 5-52 Escadrille 55S. At some point coded WU-10

NX664 del'd 8-52 Flottille 11F, 24F, 25F, Escadrille 9S, 52S, 55S. At some point coded WU-21

            (Cockpit section is on display at St. Mande, France)

NX665 del'd 6-52 as WU-13, Flottille 10F, 25F, Escadrille 9S, 62S, 55S, 58S,

            (aircraft is on statit display at Westen Sprg, New Zealand)

NX666 del'd 3-52 Flottille 2F, Escadrille 10S. At some point code coded WU-05

NX667 del'd 9-52 Flottille 10F, 24F, 25F. At some point coded WU-23

NX668 del'd 10-52 Escadrille 10S, 55S. At some point coded WU-24

NX669 del'd 8-52 Flottille 23F, 25F, Escadrille 10S. At some point coded WU-18

NX703 del'd 3-52 Flottile 2F, 23F, Escadrille 55S. At some pint coded WU-08

NX723 del'd 9-53, unit(s) unknown.

NX758 del'd 14-10-53, unit(s) unknown.

Post War Lancaster's

France

 

Updated: June 2008

ex-Lancaster Mk.VII NX623

Not in the best of shape and likely in the process of being broken up for spares. This is believed to be ex-RAF Lancaster Mk.VII NX616

MR1 WU40 depicted in Flottille colours. Formerly B1 PA432

Two views of ex-RAF Lancaster Mk.VII NX622