3000-MILE RANGE

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 20860, 12 August 1942, Page 3

3000-MILE RANGE

LANCASTER BOMBERS LOAD OF EIGHT TONS CHEAP PRODUCTION . (British Official Wireless.) (11.30 a.m.) RUGBY, Aug. 11. The latest British heavy bombers, Avro Lancasters, 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 against Essen, Dusseldorf, Augsburg, Danzig, Flensburg and other raids. The flight to Danzig, involving a round journey of over 1700 miles, was the longest trip yet made by the Bomber Command. The Lancaster is a development of the two-engined Manchester and was built in record time. Its success was assured from the first trial flights and the staff of two large factories where Lancasters are made are jusly proud. The design lends itself to relatively cheap production. The entire aeroplane is built up of component parts manufactured largely as separate, self-contained units, easily moved and assembled. There is used in its production, for instance, a 6000-ton hydraulic press purchased four years ago from a wallpaper firm. This is now responsible for producing 40,000 components weekly. The Lancaster’s wingspan is 102 ft. The length of the plane is 69ft. 4ins., and height 20ft. The bomb load is carried inside the fuselage in a compartment operated with two large doors, operated hydraulically. A special electric circuit ensures that the bombs cannot be released until the bomb doors are open. In the case of 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 fuselages and a fourth in the tail. A crew of seven can be carried.