BRITISH HEAVY BOMBER

Press, Volume LXXVIII, Issue 23715, 13 August 1942, Page 6

BRITISH HEAVY BOMBER

PERFORMANCE OF AVRO LANCASTER

(8.0. W.) RUGBY, August 11. The latest British heavy bomber, the Avro Lancaster, with a maximum range of about 3000 miles, can carry the heaviest bombs to the furthermost parts of enemy territory. Its maximum bomb load is about eight tons. Lancasters have been used in raids on Essen, Dusseldorf, Augsburg, Danzig, Flensburg and other raids, the flight to Danzig involving a round journey of over 1700 miles the longest trip yet made by the Bomber Command/’ The Lancaster is a development of the two-engined Manchester. It was built in record time, and its success was assured from the first trial flights; The staffs of the two large factories where Lancasters are made are justly proud. The design, lends itself to relatively cheap production. The entire aeroplane is built up of component parts manufactured largely as separate, selfcontained units, which are easily moved and assembled. There is used in its production,, for instance, a 6000-ton hydraulic press which was purchased four years, ago from a wallpaper firm. This is now responsible for producing 40,000 components Weekly. The Lancaster’s wing span is 102 feet, the length of the aeroplane is 69 feet 4 inches, and the height 20 feet. The bomb load is carried inside the fuselage in a compartment with two large doors which are operated hydraulically. A special electric circuit ensures that the bombs cannot be released until the bomb doors are open. In case of the failure of the hydraulic system, the bomb doors can be operated by an emergency air system, as can the undercarriage. The armament is 10 Browning guns of .303 calibre installed in four turrets, one in the 'nose, one above and one below the middle of the fuselage, and the fourth in the tail. A crew of seven can be carried. .