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Post War Lancaster's

Great Britian - Royal Navy

 

Updated: July 2008

Sources:

 

Article by Tony Drury, 2005 posted on the Royal Navy Research Archive web site

Allan G,. Williams, Peterborough, England
Lancaster-Archive Database,

 

In November 1945 the Royal Navy was looking for replace aircraft to re-equip No. 734 Naval Air Engine Handling Unit, whose Armstrong Whitley GRVII’s which had been specially fitted with fuel flow meters and other instruments so they could be used as flying class rooms in which pilots could be instructed in Merlin engine handling techniques.

 

At this time Lancaster’s still being delivered from the production lines as part of the final orders which had been placed during the war were completed. The Air Ministry therefore had a surplus of Lancaster’s many of which were basically unwanted and most held in storage before ultimately being scrapped with little air time on their air frames. It was therefore logical for the British Government to transfer six Lancaster’s from Air Ministry strength over to the Admiralty.

 

The transfer appears to be been completed on paper at least on 29 November 1946, however it is not entirely clear when the aircraft was stored at prior to their transfer. And it may be possible that the aircraft required some work prior to being flight worthy and ready for ferrying.

 

By 21 February 1946, No. 734 Naval Air Engine Handling Unit which was stationed at HMS Godwit, as part of  the Royal Naval Air Station (RNAS) Hinstock, had been disbanded. No recorded appears to exist that their intended Lancaster’s had not been taken on strength by this time.

 

On 28 March 1947, No. 780 Advance Flying Training Squadron was reformed at HMS Godwit now apparently part of RNAS Peplow. Equipped with various aircraft types and it appears the squadron took on strength all six of the Lancaster’s at this time. Although this is somewhat in question as well, as two of the airframes PA287 and RF229 either have no record of being transferred to the Naval or to the squadron on their Form 78’s nor appear on the squadron’s initial equipment. Strangely PA287 does appear on the squadron’s final disposal lists and is included in the request to ferrying dated 17 December 1946. Therefore, it may be possible that both aircraft were present at RNAS Peplow but were in fact in long term storage by an RAF Maintenance Unit (possibly Cosford)

 

While it is unclear as to the whether or not all of the Lancaster’s were converted to in-flight class rooms. Accordingly to Petty Officer Air Fitter (Engines) Ron Swinn who’s remembrances of . 780 Advance Flying Training Squadron are posted on the Royal Navy’s research archive web site. PA224, was certainly modified to turn the aircraft into a flying Observer's classroom.

 

He listed the modifications  to include:

 

gutting the interior of the war time equipment and unnecessary fitting.

 

 installing opposing banks of flying and navigational instruments in the space aft of the main spar

 

fixing half a dozen seats of each side, to allow for 12 trainees to be train in-flight at the same time.

 

PA224’s first test flight after these changes appears to have been in September 1946 and reference is made to one long range flight to Malta which occurred late in the same year. After this there appears to have been little flight time recorded. The aircraft was damaged during ground handling in a hanger, and no further use appears to have made after repairs were completed

 

The lack of use may also be true for the other five Lancaster’s during this period as only RA513 and RA578 are known to have been flown by Lt. P.S. Aked, Royal Navy on the 26^th and 27^th of September 1946 respectively.

 

 

 

 

WANTED: Photographs of these aircraft in RN service