Thanks for watching everyone! Apologies I meant 500rpm instead of 5000! 😆 If you enjoyed the video, please give it a 'thumbs up' and comment below with your thoughts. If it's popular, I'll try and more more of these in the future.
Great, informative vid that gives an ideas of what these machines were like for the crew. You might have mentioned the twin-50-cal rear guns and H2S radar would have been fitted later in WW II. Earier machines would have had 4x 0.303-cal; and no radar. Still later Lancs may have had radar-guided rear guns. God bless all the crews.
My father, Kevin Winston McSweeney, was an Australian Lancaster pilot who flew a dozen or so missions out of Fullbek, Linconshire before being shot down by a night fighter over Germany. The Germans accounted for the seven crew - four dead and three survivors - and so stopped the search. However, there were eight on that flight because of a Canadian navigator doing a training run. Because of the reduced search intensity my dad was able to get across into nearby Holland. After being helped by the Dutch underground he was shopped to the Nazis by a Belgian and spent several months in St Giles prison. The train they were put on to take them back to Germany was attacked by the underground and while the guards were busy fighting off the attack, dad and some other prisoners were able to break through the carriage floor and escape. They made their way west and made contact with the advancing allied army. He formed a new crew when back in England but before he could fly again the war finished, much to his mum's relief back home in Australia, who had only just found out that he was alive, six months or so after hearing that he was missing in action. He had just turned 21.
great story. Thanks Brett. Incredible how the average of the Lanc crew was 22. Mere very young men. So many incredible stories like yours from a terrible time.
My Great Uncle served a full 30-flight tour in Lancs, as a navigator. Mostly undertaking night raids across Germany. One can only imagine the noise, cold, loss and constant fear these brave young men must have endured. My utmost respect and thanks to them all
When I was 19-20 in the mid sixties my friends and l would do what any in our age group did…generally having fun. Twenty or so years earlier my mother’s brother when the same age was the pilot in a freezing cold bomber, ears shattered by noise and air pressure being shot at by flak and night fighters night after night….He survived all that, died from a motorcycle accident in 1951…They were a hell of a resilient and brave generation.
Thank you so much for this great video! My Dad was from Canada, but served in the RAF 101 Squadron, as a mid upper gunner. He remained close to the entire crew the rest of his life. We used to travel to the tail gunner's home for Easter and Thanksgiving weekends as kids. We are still friends with their kids today. The navigator lived across the country, but we occasionally would be visited by him. The pilot owned a large business making corn starch just moments from our home. Dad kept everything from the war, and created two very detailed large binders of all their flights over Germany, how many bombs were dropped, how many lives were lost, etc. They are priceless to us now as Dad left us in July of 2015, and all his stories went with him. My sisters and I hope to travel to England, and I would very much love to visit this museum.
My great uncle was squadron leader of 101 during WW2, the squadron flew the modified lancs with the ABC device and crew member on raids. I live in the UK near Duxford which is a fantastic aircraft museum and operating airbase if you visit the UK its worth a visit. If you visit in the summer you can regularly see spitfires and American fights like the P40 flying over head.
@@Richs_reef Did your uncle go to the reunions? If you could tell me his name I may recognize it from my Dad's stories, he kept in touch with many 101 members until he passed away in 2015
Thank you for the tour - excellent! My father was an RAF pilot and flew Lancasters on his second tour of operations with 61 Sqn. He said they handled beautifully and those four Merlins always brought him home safely along with his crew, despite flak and the Luftwaffe. More than 55,000 Bomber Command aircrew were not so fortunate and their sacrifice should never be forgotten. All Bomber aircrew were volunteers and they knew the risks.
Hi Peter, my Father was a Lancaster pilot with 61sqd. I was very fortunate to actually go into his Lancaster when he was an instructor. This video made me realise how detail I had forgotten. Best video I have seen on the interior of a Lancaster. Ed
@@IndependentSeniors A pleasure to meet you, Ed. Yes, it's a jolly good tour. You were very lucky to go on board your father's Lancaster - how exciting! My father, Sqn. Ldr. Geoffrey Hall, D.F.C. & Bar flew 17 Sorties on Lancs on his second tour of Ops with 61 Sqn., from Jan 1943 to June '43 from RAF Syerston.
@@CARDSTOPTCG I'm very sorry to hear that - it was the fate of many brave aircrew. My father finished his second tour at Syerston in June of 1943, so probably wouldn't have met your great uncle, as 61Sqn was based at Skellingthorpe by then. My father joined 1661 Conversion Unit at RAF Winthorpe as an instructor on 29/06/43. You may already know this, but Lancaster DV 304, which was transferred from 101 Sqn, was given the 61 Squadron marking QR-V and failed to return from Revigny in Eastern France on the date you mention. All the best, Pete
My grandfather was a Lancaster Pilot with 622 Sqn Mildenhall and had two Australians as part of his 7 man crew. They Australians were his Navigator and Wireless Operator. They were part of a huge night attack on Frankfurt, the last of the war, made up of 387 aircraft. My grandfather's plane, NF-965, survived the assault but on the way back it was hit by another Lancaster that had been shot down and both planes crashed in France just over the border, all 14 crew from both planes were lost including my Grandfather aged 25. The Sqn lost 17 aircraft on the raid. I have visited the tiny cemetery in France and paid my respects to all the crew members.
Yes flyin at night ..freezing temp..loud engines roaring..German fighters honing in at speed from any angle..and your stuck at the rear all by yourself...Extremely brave and dedicated ..amazing
Proud to say my dad served in bomber command in the Halifax , 29 ops till shot down and captured seemed to have taken it all in his stride the way he talked about his service , he got me and my son inside the lanc here in the UK with his bomber command association membership we felt very privileged to have done that, I told him what I thought about what he went through said it was a job that had to be done the RAF and the USAAC where the only force to take the war into nazj Germany before Dday , shortened the war by months , dad was one of the lucky ones who survived the war he passed away in 2019 aged 96 after living in a care home with dementia , he was always attempting to escape, couldn't keep an old airman down !
Absolutely. And most were so young. Geez, when I think about how immature I was when I was 18...22...24... yet there 'kids' were off fighting for their country. Huge respect.
Fabulous! My uncle, Robert (Bob) Pattison, DFC, was a pilot in 625 squadron. He flew over 30 missions - all before he turned 25years old. Your video has given me greater insight into his wartime experience.
I've been inside this Lanc' I was visiting this museum while living in Perth 15 years ago, I got talking to an old bloke who was a ww2 vet who worked there, he said "do you wanna climb in?" Couldn't believe my luck, I had the whole plane to myself, I felt very honoured, one of the greats!
I knew an Australian who flew all his WW2 missions as a navigator in a Lancaster. Early 40s he was shipped with a large group across the Pacific to Canada to do 6 months training in aircraft as a group of 6-12. I can’t remember the number exactly. Initially all did the same training but at some point in that period they were chosen on merit as a particular crew member, gunner, pilot, aimer etc. All stayed together for all sorties. He got a desk job in the Government when he got back to Australia after the war. I found myself very fond of him, a genuine, gentle human being. He married and had a daughter.
The best in-depth tour of a Lancaster I’ve ever seen. Thank you. My wife’s uncle was a tail gunner on a Lanc with the RCAF. Shot down twice. Captured and held in a stalag and attempted one escape and was caught. The second time he was successful. Such tight quarters in this aircraft that some would find it quite claustrophobic.
My Dad worked at AV Roes, Leeds. His last job was as an Inspector on the Lancs....he had to ensure that the new planes were up to standard to be delivered to the RAF. It took 200 gallons of fuel to get a loaded one into the air. Growing up, our radio was a receiver that Dad converted to work on domestic electricity instead of the bomber's batteries. It worked for about 16 years. Coming home from Leeds when I was about 4 there was a Lanc in City Square, Leeds illuminated by flaming brands. We entered via the bomb doors and left via the pilot's door. I remember there was no floor (to save weight) and I had to lifted over the struts holding it together. Special memory.
Another excellent tour of a Legendary WW2 aircraft. Stunned to learn that half were lost to combat and only 1 in 4 airmen went unscathed during their tours. A much different generation of brave young men than the majority of todays youth. I am grateful I found your Channel keep up these great video tours Paul . I also enjoy reading all the comments from former crewmen or their families. The Greatest Generation for sure .
Great tour, and iconic plane. My great uncle was a navigator with the Pathfinders 83rd Squadron. His Lancaster crashed/presumed shot down on 22nd June 1943 off the coast of Holland. 4 days later his body washed up on the beach of the isle of Terchelling, where he now rests in peace at the Commonwealth war grave cemetery . Only 3 of the 7 crew were recovered.
Fantastic vid, thank you! My grandad was a navigator in the Lancs, but for some reason he never saw combat. He never forgave the RAF for it but did once admit to me that despite the decades of survivors guilt he felt after the war, he finally realised that he must have had a guardian angel, because had he gone in, he'd never have come back out. He knew it was as good as a death sentence when he volunteered and this video does a brilliant job of illustrating why!
Another fascinating tour Paul! Your uninterrupted 'sweeps' of footage really gives us access to the aircraft and allows us to get some understandings for the proportions of it. As you said, that interior looks horribly cramped and it's incredible how brave these kids were flying these "tin cans" (as you've said in other videos) across to Europe.
Great video brought back memories of 70 years ago at RAF Lichfield,Staffordshire,U.K. this 6ANS (Air Navigation School). I was stationed there and they trained only in Lancasters. Now aged 89.
Much respect to the brave men who flew these. Knowing you had a 50/50 chance of making it home is a sobering thought. I grew up near the Battle of Britain museum and once had the great honor of a tour around their Lancaster with a crew member. It was one of the most humbling experiences of my life.
Wow. That was an amazing tour. My granddad used to fly in the Lancaster Bombers. I never knew just how cramped and awkward and freezing it must have been to be one of the crew! I’ve never seen in so much detail the inside of that incredible Lancaster Bomber. The narration was very well choreographed to. Really enjoyed this. Thank you Paul.
A few years ago, I had the great privilege to be given a personal tour inside the Static display Lancaster in Auckland`s ( NZ ) MOTAT museum. My guide was an ex RAF pilot who appreciated my knowledge of the plane. My late uncle completed, and survived his tour on Lancaster`s, as radio operator, and finished the war in Mosquito`s with a Pathfinder squadron. As can be seen in this video, moving within the aircraft, most especially over the wing spars can be very difficult, and I could only imagine just how difficult, wearing a bulky flying suit, even though they were young men - I was seventy :) I became very emotional, thinking of my uncle, doing his bit, amidst the terror and carnage - he was most definitely one of the lucky few who survived, and I was lucky to have had this opportunity -and with your video also - well done :)
Fascinating to be reminded of Barnes Wallace and his development of the "bouncing" bomb which was dropped by this aircraft in World War II. War is tragic and so many lives are lost but this aircraft, the Avro Lancaster made a huge contribution to winning the war for the Allies. Informative and interesting. Well done Paul.
I took part in a Lancaster VIP day at East Kirkby in Lincolnshire, England. Ticked off my bucket list. VIP days are popular and need to be booked well in advance. "Just Jane" is in the process of being readied for flight but the VIP Day includes a taxi run, getting onto two wheels - very exciting. Highly recommended.
Just "crawled" through a lancaster. I just can't imagine moving around in that aircraft with all the gear on while bouncing around in flight. Bomber Command in Nanton Alberta, Canada has one. Several times a year they pull it out and run all the Merlin engines. This weekend they are doing the only night run for the year. Hearing and feeling those engines when just 20 feet away is spectacular.
One of my great grandfathers on my dad's side helped build parts of the Lancaster planes I've always been interested in history. I've also learnt that on my mother's side, grandmas relative fought agains the Germans and after the war his son grew up and married a German. On grandmas side one of her relatives fought in ww1. Either side I'm related to history whether its building a Lancaster or fighting in a war
Excellent video, never seen inside a Lancaster before. My father was ground crew during the war stationed at Mildenhall and then Lakenheath on Stirlings and then Lancs when they were introduced. He had a good friend who was a tail gunner and who, thankfully, survived the war. Cannot imagine how cold and cramped these guys must have been, not to mention how brave. Thanks for doing this
My father was a maintenance engineer based in Iraq at end of WW2, he told me many stories when he was out there in the desert and had many Lancaster Bomber models he loved the simplicity of the machine. I took him to RAF Hendon in the 1990,s really amazing looking aircraft.
Wonderful tour, Paul. I saw this aircraft when I was in Perth a couple of years ago..simply magnificent. Oh, if only we could get a Lanc flying here in Australia to honour those who flew in, and died in them. One thing, when talking about the Merlin engine, you say "including the Spitfire, which is also on display here". That Spitfire is a MK22, powered by the Rolls Royce Griffon engine, one of which is on display right beside the Merlin. You can easily see the difference in size. Totally different engine.
That's a great looking museum. I'm just finishing a book called "The Other Battle" by Peter Hinchliffe, who was a Lancaster crew member. Your video was very helpful in bringing home the conditions in which those young men fought. Thank you for your effort.
There was a book written by an Australian pilot in his squadron who survived his tour. The only crew that did when he started . It was a good book , but harrowing. They were all young Guy Gibson the Wing Commander who lead the dams raid was 24 at time of that mission.
Impressive tour many thanks. My uncle Fred was a rear gunner in a Lanc, he did 27 ops including lots of raids into Germany. Several times his aircraft “T for Tommy” came back damaged and with an engine or two out. He also did flights on Flying Fortresses as rear and waist gunner. But he survived the war. Looking at that journey to the rear turret really makes you think. Although most were young men, one can try to imagine the horrendous task of getting out of there, grabbing a parachute and exiting the aircraft if it were going down. Not forgetting the G forces if it were rolling or spinning out of control. Plus the fact that you might have been shot or wounded at the time. Thank goodness the men and women of bomber command have been finally recognised for their devotion to duty and sacrifices now, a bloody shame it took so very long. Lest we forget
I once knew a rear turret gunner, you'd need to be very quick to make sure you could get out. He'd briefly joined a crew on one Lancaster- he complained they were too chatty - after he left to return to his normal crew that crew were killed. It was the luck of the draw.
Thanks Paul..a fantastic tour. Friends father was a rear gunner and survived the war. He had some fascinating stories...only wish I had recorded them. Told me how when all was calm and he got bored he would swing the turret causing the plane to yaw and get a few swear words from the pilot.
A few years ago I dated a German woman,who's grandfather flew for the Luftwaffe during WWII. He told me incredible stories of his time fighting in Defence of the Reich. Told me incredible stories of the plane he flew in,the FW190 and the planes he shot down. Amongst them were several American and British bombers. Also some fighter planes,like the Spitfire,Mustang and Typhoon. He got shot several times,got injured but survived the war. He flew for the Luftwaffe after the war in F4 Phantoms. I am glad I met this brave man...
Dad was C.E. section (construction engineer) when in the army. We were posted to Lahr Germany in the early 80s. We became very good friends and pretty well extended family of the owners of the Hirsch Tanlin (i know I got that wrong!!) in Lahr. Herr Putz was a lieutenant in the luftwaffe. Here we are considered family with them and in the same lifetime we were bitter enemies. It is a lesson of life that I learnt when I was really young. Being an Army brat was the best way growing up!!
He might have been flying the lone FW 190 that murdered many children when he staffed them at play in their school . My mother told me and worked with mothers at C&A in Peckham. That Pilot was not at all brave just Carrying out Hitlers Orders blindly and willingly.😢
Just watched your B17 tour, now enjoyed your Lanc one (copied it to a mate whose dad was a tail gunner), please give your self a virtual reality hand shake from me, nice simple clear delivery, very respectful of those who had to fight in these.
What an extremely rare review of the legend. I treasured this video very much. Thank you so much Paul for your comprehensive preparation for this video.
Awesome tour Paul. I appreciate the effort you put into this video along with the informative commentary. We have a restored Lancaster in Auckland, New Zealand. My great uncle was a navigator on one during the war, unfortunately plane & crew killed on a bombing raid. I have his medals and log book now. Thanks again.
My father did his national service in the mid-later 40s as a radio mechanic working on Lancasters and other piston planes. He remembered them with great fondness. It was nice to see the details of the machines in your video.
The RR Merlin was a sensational engine at that time. Great to see RR get the recent B52 re-engine contract! Today, the GE9X holds that “Merlin” wow factor! Thanks Paul, such wonderful insights into the Arvo Lancaster.
I´ve seen a fair number of guided tours through the Lancaster. This was by far the most thorough and knowledgable of them all so far. I don´t often praise people, but well done mate.
The most interesting and comprehensive tour of a WW2 aircraft I’ve seen thanks Paul. The interchangeably of aircraft parts was a practical approach to aircraft design, but I had no idea this was done until watching your vlog. Also, the Rolls Royce Merlin engines used on the Lancasters,, so interesting! Well done again mate✌️
What a fantastic museum. Thank you for sharing such an important aircraft with us all. Huge hats of congratulations to the museum. They have provided a magnificent tribute to all the amazing crews who made the ultimate sacrifice. Humbling, and awe inspiring, when we think of how young they were. Incredible. Thank you Paul.
Thanks for this tour. My dad flew these in WW2. He trained bomber crews early in the war. He survived the war and came home. Always wanted to see what he flew. Now I know. Thanks so much!
My uncle was a flight engineer on these and the Sunderlands, mostly with coastal command. He survived the war but suffered from occasional nightmares for the rest of his long life. It was interesting seeing what he had to contend with. After he retired he used to volunteer at the Cosford Air Museum.
Cool video, my dad worked on these in WW2 - radar mostly. Almost died when someone accidentally hit the bomb release on the tarmac. My dads comment - you wouldn’t believe how difficult it was to exit the aircraft in an emergency, and this was stationary on the tarmac - goodness knows how anyone got out inflight. And yes the Lancaster exploded just after he got out, made a big hole and he was initially posted as missing in action - for the second time!
My Grandfather call sign Swany was a Lancaster pilot during the war. I was lucky enough to know my grandad. Thank you for the video,it really gives me an idea of what he did.
As a life long aviation nerd I like to have a good design quirk or amazing feature to talk about in my pocket for any aircraft I come across. You always have one but often two that I have never read about. My hat is off to you sir .
It’s often overlooked the number of tours the young RAF guys did in WW2. An incredible contribution. The fact that bomber command is controversial should not detract from their efforts and sacrifices - it’s only fair there is the memorial to them now in London.
I grew up with this Lancaster at the Bullcreek museum, its been a number of years since I saw it last, it has been wonderfully restored. I have never actually been able to see inside it, so this was a fantastic video. The first time I saw it was back in the 90s. They have a Dakota there that my dad was a passenger on a number of times in the RAAF in the 1960s.
Fantastic tour of this magnificent aircraft! The narration and identification of key parts of the the plane was really excellent. I found your explanations of components to be delivered at exactly the point I was to wondering what they were. So good to see parts of the plane I have read about, giving an excellent understanding of their size. For example the main wing spar !
I just love the way you present these very informative videos on ww2 Aviation History, you sir are the most thorough and informative individual. Thank you for your painstaking efforts to preserve Aviation History
Great tour thanks.interesting about the fuel tanks being replenished with nitrogen. Also the ammo trays for the rear gunner. Truly appreciate this channel.
My father, Flt Sgt Leslie W Cromarty DFM, was a rear gunner, almost completing 40 ops, most with 61 Squadron and the remainder with 189. His life was saved by his Irving seat parachute when the aircraft was blown apart by 'Shrage Musik' (upward firing cannons). The rest of the crew perished, sadly, as there was no fuselage left for them to retrieve their parachutes.
Your father, Flt Sgt Leslie W Cromarty DFM, Rear Gunner ('Tail End Charlie' ) & sole survivor, in such a dangerous aircraft position to fly in, rear attacks usually getting the tail gunner first . . . . . . Thank you for recounting this unusual true story of the upward firing cannon ( I was aware of this particular weapon. ) & really so interesting to read of your father escaping when unfortunately for them, no other members of his crew did survive !
My mother worked wiring the cockpit at Malton Ont Canada during the war. A other interesting story related to flight is that as a young boy saw the Avro Arrow flying back to Malton from a test flight .
😲😲WHAT IS THAT FEELING .. to sit in that glass cabin on the tale above the clouds!😲 eating chocolate to get warm, on early morning around the sky FOG! 😲 flying for some where! AMAZING!
My friend's late father was a brave, and very young, Lancaster rear gunner. He was lucky enough to survive his tour of duty, and the war. Which was lucky for my friend too of course, as she wasn't born until many years later.
Just an amazing experience to do the tour in the lanc did it a couple years ago and have since found out my grandmas cousin served in the 460th squadron his name was Edwin John Ross have nothing but respect for him and all that served
Hey Paul, great video. My late grandfather flew Lancasters in WW2. I recently found amongst some documents the original flight manual for it plus some other handling notes. When I first saw a Lancaster in the metal I couldn’t believe how big they were, and he flew them having only 800hrs in his logbook!
The tour was awesome. Have you ever seen our Canadian Lancaster in flight? She's a loud old girl, but she still serves the skies with a throaty growl the way only four Merlins can. I had the opportunity to visit the Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum in Hamilton, Ontario, and got the biggest thrill I think I ever had on this earth up to that point. An actual British pilot that served with the RAF during WW2 was on hand to take me through the Mynarski Lancaster's history, and then shared his stories of flying his missions over Germany those many decades ago. Some guys will worship a celebrity or a sports hero, for me, this dude was all I ever wanted in a personal hero. Incidentally, he never called himself one, that's just my view of what he, and so many other committed service persons gave of themselves in order to ensure that I had the freedom to sit here and gush about that day like a moron. I have never been inside a Lancaster, so for me, your tour was the cherry on top. Thanks so much for offering it up for everyone to experience.
@@margarita8442 Yes, the City of Lincoln and Mynarski tribute Lancasters. I believe Just Jane is still being worked on to eventually join these two old workhorses.
Sounds like it would totally suck serving on board one of these big birds. Great tour as usual. Ingenious how they ran the tail gunners ammo down the length of the aircraft to keep COG balanced!
Thank you for doing this. It's Remembrance Day in Canada and my dad was a bomber in a Lancaster at 20 years of age. I had no idea where he had actually sat to operate the bombs...what intense stress that must have been. This is how I chose to spend my 11:11. Thanks
I remember, way back in the day, when this plane was sitting near the carpark at Perth Airport. That was many years ago, before they built the museum at Bull Creek and moved this plane there.
I was just a young boy when the Perth aircraft Museum took possession of this Lancaster...I have a photo of my brother and I standing in front of it when it was still on display outside. This museum is one of the best of it's kind in the world...one of my favourite places in Perth. edit spelling
I was on board a Lancaster in England when I Was a child. I never forget it. Sadly when I returned as a grown up, the plane was no longer open for the public, due to some radioactive instruments and health issues.
Great video as usual Paul. Really makes you appreciate how uncomfortable it must of been on a flight, never mind an actual raid. I dips my lid to them all…….Lest We Forget.
@@PaulStewartAviation I envy you that Paul, you have a great time. I’ll follow your channel avidly because the format and your enthusiasm are just right. Plus you’re showing me things I would never see otherwise. Every success buddy.
Wow, they're smaller than I thought they'd be. I'm a shortar*e and even I'd struggle in that space! It's amazing what they had to do and go through 80 odd years ago. You really needed to know how to do multiple roles in aircraft like this, otherwise you'd be a sitting duck if you didn't know how to operate the gun turrets or navigate or essentially useless if you weren't able to position and release the bombs over your intended targets and end up wasting the munitions on empty land or what have you. Thanks taking us through Paul.
My uncle Donald Hudson was a Lancaster pilot with the RCAF and trained in Canada. I have a copy of his log book from his bombing missions over Germany. Amazing plane.
A minor point, Paul: in the cockpit you referred to the compass repeater and next to it a "turn and bank indicator" (at the top of the panel); this last twin needle indicator is in fact a DF (direction finder) indicator which is fed by the R1155 radio receiver back at the wireless operator's desk. (I have one which works with my R1155 and its loop antenna plus a long wire antenna) :-) . A repeater DF indicator may also be found at the navigator's desk. The Lanc at East Kirkby (Lincs) is well worth a visit. An excellent video.
Fantastic video. I can't begin to imagine the conditions on a distant raid. The bravery of those crews makes me feel very humble indeed. RIP to ALL the men who lost their lives. Allied and Enemy. 🙏 😢
Another excellent walkthrough. I really like that you add information about the men who flew these aircraft. It’s very important to remember their sacrifice.
It's actually a tour you can book. It takes about an hour and a half and I did it last year - the virtual reality bombing raid over Germany was a fantastic follow up too. Incredible experience...
Paul, that was an excellent and very informative video on the Lancaster bomber! You did your research and explained it all well. My uncle was a navigator on a Lancaster and was shot down over Germany so it was with keen interest to me to see what he must have experienced. I never realized how skinny it was, you would have to be men of steel to go into battle in those. Thanks again for the informative video.
Ahhhhhh yeah , the casualty station looks like the most comfortable spot in the plane. Great video Paul and a well detailed look inside the Lancaster , one of my favorite bombers of WW2. And coincidentally enough I just watched The Dam Busters the other day. Good movie !
I had the honor of being in a Lancaster at an air show here in B.C. Canada, one of only two airworthy examples. We entered up through the nose hatch. As was said, so very narrow inside, the B-17 I was in was a bit wider, of course most of the equipment had been taken out.
That was a really enjoyable video Paul! I visit Perth frequently as I have family there but I didn't realise there was an aviation museum there, let alone a Lancaster! I'll definitely be booking a visit here next time I visit. Greetings from Adelaide. :)
Many of the rear turret gunners would remove the perspex screen in front of them, it allowed a better view. Spotting a German night fighter was hard and every bit of visibility gained could mean spotting him before he spotted you. It must have been extremely uncomfortable! By all accounts the heated flight suits were not the most reliable either.
The tail gunner was very exposed and often targeted first by German night fighters. I've read accounts of Lancs that made it back and what was left of the poor tail gunner had to be hosed out of the rear turret, such was the damage that German cannons did to them.
Thanks for watching everyone! Apologies I meant 500rpm instead of 5000! 😆 If you enjoyed the video, please give it a 'thumbs up' and comment below with your thoughts. If it's popular, I'll try and more more of these in the future.
Yes, I was wondering how they'd balance something that big so that it wouldn't fly apart at 5k RPM.
Ok for that! !!
Great, informative vid that gives an ideas of what these machines were like for the crew. You might have mentioned the twin-50-cal rear guns and H2S radar would have been fitted later in WW II. Earier machines would have had 4x 0.303-cal; and no radar. Still later Lancs may have had radar-guided rear guns. God bless all the crews.
@Tech ok, thanks for watching.
@@PaulStewartAviation I saw this beautiful beast flew over me before absolutely amazing
My father, Kevin Winston McSweeney, was an Australian Lancaster pilot who flew a dozen or so missions out of Fullbek, Linconshire before being shot down by a night fighter over Germany. The Germans accounted for the seven crew - four dead and three survivors - and so stopped the search. However, there were eight on that flight because of a Canadian navigator doing a training run. Because of the reduced search intensity my dad was able to get across into nearby Holland. After being helped by the Dutch underground he was shopped to the Nazis by a Belgian and spent several months in St Giles prison. The train they were put on to take them back to Germany was attacked by the underground and while the guards were busy fighting off the attack, dad and some other prisoners were able to break through the carriage floor and escape. They made their way west and made contact with the advancing allied army. He formed a new crew when back in England but before he could fly again the war finished, much to his mum's relief back home in Australia, who had only just found out that he was alive, six months or so after hearing that he was missing in action. He had just turned 21.
It 4 years 3rd, 33p
great story. Thanks Brett. Incredible how the average of the Lanc crew was 22. Mere very young men. So many incredible stories like yours from a terrible time.
Thats awesome
Thank you to all our Commonwealth brothers through those dark days.
Incredible. Thank you for sharing. It literally brings tears to my eyes thinking about how young those boys were, sent to kill and die
My Great Uncle served a full 30-flight tour in Lancs, as a navigator. Mostly undertaking night raids across Germany. One can only imagine the noise, cold, loss and constant fear these brave young men must have endured. My utmost respect and thanks to them all
Fully agree
When I was 19-20 in the mid sixties my friends and l would do what any in our age group did…generally having fun. Twenty or so years earlier my mother’s brother when the same age was the pilot in a freezing cold bomber, ears shattered by noise and air pressure being shot at by flak and night fighters night after night….He survived all that, died from a motorcycle accident in 1951…They were a hell of a resilient and brave generation.
So did mine, then he went on one more mission as a volunteer and was killed.
@@cavscout7113 oh my goodness. The ultimate sacrifice. Such a cruel loss for your family.
Thank you so much for this great video! My Dad was from Canada, but served in the RAF 101 Squadron, as a mid upper gunner. He remained close to the entire crew the rest of his life. We used to travel to the tail gunner's home for Easter and Thanksgiving weekends as kids. We are still friends with their kids today. The navigator lived across the country, but we occasionally would be visited by him. The pilot owned a large business making corn starch just moments from our home. Dad kept everything from the war, and created two very detailed large binders of all their flights over Germany, how many bombs were dropped, how many lives were lost, etc. They are priceless to us now as Dad left us in July of 2015, and all his stories went with him. My sisters and I hope to travel to England, and I would very much love to visit this museum.
You're welcome although this museum is in Perth Australia. :)
@@PaulStewartAviation LOL We just took it for granted it was England.
There is many museums like this one in the UK Hendon is fantastic.
My great uncle was squadron leader of 101 during WW2, the squadron flew the modified lancs with the ABC device and crew member on raids. I live in the UK near Duxford which is a fantastic aircraft museum and operating airbase if you visit the UK its worth a visit. If you visit in the summer you can regularly see spitfires and American fights like the P40 flying over head.
@@Richs_reef Did your uncle go to the reunions? If you could tell me his name I may recognize it from my Dad's stories, he kept in touch with many 101 members until he passed away in 2015
Thank you for the tour - excellent! My father was an RAF pilot and flew Lancasters on his second tour of operations with 61 Sqn. He said they handled beautifully and those four Merlins always brought him home safely along with his crew, despite flak and the Luftwaffe. More than 55,000 Bomber Command aircrew were not so fortunate and their sacrifice should never be forgotten. All Bomber aircrew were volunteers and they knew the risks.
Glad you enjoyed it Pete
Hi Peter, my Father was a Lancaster pilot with 61sqd. I was very fortunate to actually go into his Lancaster when he was an instructor. This video made me realise how detail I had forgotten. Best video I have seen on the interior of a Lancaster. Ed
@@IndependentSeniors A pleasure to meet you, Ed. Yes, it's a jolly good tour. You were very lucky to go on board your father's Lancaster - how exciting! My father, Sqn. Ldr. Geoffrey Hall, D.F.C. & Bar flew 17 Sorties on Lancs on his second tour of Ops with 61 Sqn., from Jan 1943 to June '43 from RAF Syerston.
My great uncle served with 61 squadron on Lancaster DV304 ❤️ missing on operations 18/19th July 1944
@@CARDSTOPTCG I'm very sorry to hear that - it was the fate of many brave aircrew. My father finished his second tour at Syerston in June of 1943, so probably wouldn't have met your great uncle, as 61Sqn was based at Skellingthorpe by then. My father joined 1661 Conversion Unit at RAF Winthorpe as an instructor on 29/06/43. You may already know this, but Lancaster DV 304, which was transferred from 101 Sqn, was given the 61 Squadron marking QR-V and failed to return from Revigny in Eastern France on the date you mention. All the best, Pete
Best aircraft walkthrough ever. Actually sitting in the tailgunners position, excellent, thank you.
Glad you enjoyed it
dont forget all these men were Volunteers
Gotta watch his recent Valkyrie and blackbird tour
My grandfather was a Lancaster Pilot with 622 Sqn Mildenhall and had two Australians as part of his 7 man crew. They Australians were his Navigator and Wireless Operator. They were part of a huge night attack on Frankfurt, the last of the war, made up of 387 aircraft. My grandfather's plane, NF-965, survived the assault but on the way back it was hit by another Lancaster that had been shot down and both planes crashed in France just over the border, all 14 crew from both planes were lost including my Grandfather aged 25. The Sqn lost 17 aircraft on the raid. I have visited the tiny cemetery in France and paid my respects to all the crew members.
It must have been absolutely terrifying. Some of the bravest men who ever lived.
I would have been bricking myself. I would have hated it. Such brave men
Yes flyin at night ..freezing temp..loud engines roaring..German fighters honing in at speed from any angle..and your stuck at the rear all by yourself...Extremely brave and dedicated ..amazing
Proud to say my dad served in bomber command in the Halifax , 29 ops till shot down and captured seemed to have taken it all in his stride the way he talked about his service , he got me and my son inside the lanc here in the UK with his bomber command association membership we felt very privileged to have done that, I told him what I thought about what he went through said it was a job that had to be done the RAF and the USAAC where the only force to take the war into nazj Germany before Dday , shortened the war by months , dad was one of the lucky ones who survived the war he passed away in 2019 aged 96 after living in a care home with dementia , he was always attempting to escape, couldn't keep an old airman down !
Absolutely. And most were so young. Geez, when I think about how immature I was when I was 18...22...24... yet there 'kids' were off fighting for their country. Huge respect.
@@PaulStewartAviation bitter sweet 500k german civilians killed by air bombing and french as well
Fabulous! My uncle, Robert (Bob) Pattison, DFC, was a pilot in 625 squadron. He flew over 30 missions - all before he turned 25years old. Your video has given me greater insight into his wartime experience.
Glad you enjoyed the video :)
The Lancaster, while not a graceful aircraft, is none the less a beautiful airplane to me. Thanks for the well done tour of this legend.
I've been inside this Lanc' I was visiting this museum while living in Perth 15 years ago, I got talking to an old bloke who was a ww2 vet who worked there, he said "do you wanna climb in?" Couldn't believe my luck, I had the whole plane to myself, I felt very honoured, one of the greats!
I knew an Australian who flew all his WW2 missions as a navigator in a Lancaster. Early 40s he was shipped with a large group across the Pacific to Canada to do 6 months training in aircraft as a group of 6-12. I can’t remember the number exactly. Initially all did the same training but at some point in that period they were chosen on merit as a particular crew member, gunner, pilot, aimer etc. All stayed together for all sorties. He got a desk job in the Government when he got back to Australia after the war. I found myself very fond of him, a genuine, gentle human being. He married and had a daughter.
The best in-depth tour of a Lancaster I’ve ever seen. Thank you. My wife’s uncle was a tail gunner on a Lanc with the RCAF. Shot down twice. Captured and held in a stalag and attempted one escape and was caught. The second time he was successful. Such tight quarters in this aircraft that some would find it quite claustrophobic.
My Dad worked at AV Roes, Leeds. His last job was as an Inspector on the Lancs....he had to ensure that the new planes were up to standard to be delivered to the RAF. It took 200 gallons of fuel to get a loaded one into the air. Growing up, our radio was a receiver that Dad converted to work on domestic electricity instead of the bomber's batteries. It worked for about 16 years. Coming home from Leeds when I was about 4 there was a Lanc in City Square, Leeds illuminated by flaming brands. We entered via the bomb doors and left via the pilot's door. I remember there was no floor (to save weight) and I had to lifted over the struts holding it together. Special memory.
As somebody who has seen a landcaster in person at the Hamilton warplane museum it is hard to comprehend the size of this plane it is just huge
Another excellent tour of a Legendary WW2 aircraft. Stunned to learn that half were lost to combat and only 1 in 4 airmen went unscathed during their tours. A much different generation of brave young men than the majority of todays youth. I am grateful I found your Channel keep up these great video tours Paul . I also enjoy reading all the comments from former crewmen or their families. The Greatest Generation for sure .
Great tour, and iconic plane. My great uncle was a navigator with the Pathfinders 83rd Squadron. His Lancaster crashed/presumed shot down on 22nd June 1943 off the coast of Holland. 4 days later his body washed up on the beach of the isle of Terchelling, where he now rests in peace at the Commonwealth war grave cemetery . Only 3 of the 7 crew were recovered.
Fantastic vid, thank you! My grandad was a navigator in the Lancs, but for some reason he never saw combat. He never forgave the RAF for it but did once admit to me that despite the decades of survivors guilt he felt after the war, he finally realised that he must have had a guardian angel, because had he gone in, he'd never have come back out. He knew it was as good as a death sentence when he volunteered and this video does a brilliant job of illustrating why!
Beautiful plane. The statistics on survival are mind blowing.
Another fascinating tour Paul! Your uninterrupted 'sweeps' of footage really gives us access to the aircraft and allows us to get some understandings for the proportions of it. As you said, that interior looks horribly cramped and it's incredible how brave these kids were flying these "tin cans" (as you've said in other videos) across to Europe.
Glad you enjoyed it
Great video brought back memories of 70 years ago at RAF Lichfield,Staffordshire,U.K. this 6ANS (Air Navigation School). I was stationed there and they trained only in Lancasters. Now aged 89.
Much respect to the brave men who flew these. Knowing you had a 50/50 chance of making it home is a sobering thought. I grew up near the Battle of Britain museum and once had the great honor of a tour around their Lancaster with a crew member. It was one of the most humbling experiences of my life.
here here
Wow. That was an amazing tour. My granddad used to fly in the Lancaster Bombers. I never knew just how cramped and awkward and freezing it must have been to be one of the crew! I’ve never seen in so much detail the inside of that incredible Lancaster Bomber. The narration was very well choreographed to. Really enjoyed this. Thank you Paul.
Glad you enjoyed it Alex
Dittos to Alex's comment. Informative video & excellent view of Lancaster from inside.
@@jroch41 cheers James
A few years ago, I had the great privilege to be given a personal tour inside the Static display Lancaster in Auckland`s ( NZ ) MOTAT museum. My guide was an ex RAF pilot who appreciated my knowledge of the plane. My late uncle completed, and survived his tour on Lancaster`s, as radio operator, and finished the war in Mosquito`s with a Pathfinder squadron.
As can be seen in this video, moving within the aircraft, most especially over the wing spars can be very difficult, and I could only imagine just how difficult, wearing a bulky flying suit, even though they were young men - I was seventy :)
I became very emotional, thinking of my uncle, doing his bit, amidst the terror and carnage - he was most definitely one of the lucky few who survived, and I was lucky to have had this opportunity -and with your video also - well done :)
Glad you enjoyed the video.
Fascinating to be reminded of Barnes Wallace and his development of the "bouncing" bomb which was dropped by this aircraft in World War II. War is tragic and so many lives are lost but this aircraft, the Avro Lancaster made a huge contribution to winning the war for the Allies. Informative and interesting. Well done Paul.
I took part in a Lancaster VIP day at East Kirkby in Lincolnshire, England. Ticked off my bucket list. VIP days are popular and need to be booked well in advance. "Just Jane" is in the process of being readied for flight but the VIP Day includes a taxi run, getting onto two wheels - very exciting. Highly recommended.
Just "crawled" through a lancaster. I just can't imagine moving around in that aircraft with all the gear on while bouncing around in flight. Bomber Command in Nanton Alberta, Canada has one. Several times a year they pull it out and run all the Merlin engines. This weekend they are doing the only night run for the year. Hearing and feeling those engines when just 20 feet away is spectacular.
One of my great grandfathers on my dad's side helped build parts of the Lancaster planes
I've always been interested in history.
I've also learnt that on my mother's side, grandmas relative fought agains the Germans and after the war his son grew up and married a German.
On grandmas side one of her relatives fought in ww1.
Either side I'm related to history whether its building a Lancaster or fighting in a war
Excellent video, never seen inside a Lancaster before. My father was ground crew during the war stationed at Mildenhall and then Lakenheath on Stirlings and then Lancs when they were introduced. He had a good friend who was a tail gunner and who, thankfully, survived the war. Cannot imagine how cold and cramped these guys must have been, not to mention how brave. Thanks for doing this
Glad you enjoyed it Mark. More tours coming soon - including inside the B-29
My father was a maintenance engineer based in Iraq at end of WW2, he told me many stories when he was out there in the desert and had many Lancaster Bomber models he loved the simplicity of the machine. I took him to RAF Hendon in the 1990,s really amazing looking aircraft.
Very informative and interesting. A lump welled up in my throat when the casualty statistics were given. God bless those men !
Wonderful tour, Paul. I saw this aircraft when I was in Perth a couple of years ago..simply magnificent. Oh, if only we could get a Lanc flying here in Australia to honour those who flew in, and died in them. One thing, when talking about the Merlin engine, you say "including the Spitfire, which is also on display here". That Spitfire is a MK22, powered by the Rolls Royce Griffon engine, one of which is on display right beside the Merlin. You can easily see the difference in size. Totally different engine.
That's a great looking museum. I'm just finishing a book called "The Other Battle" by Peter Hinchliffe, who was a Lancaster crew member. Your video was very helpful in bringing home the conditions in which those young men fought. Thank you for your effort.
Glad you enjoyed it
There was a book written by an Australian pilot in his squadron who survived his tour. The only crew that did when he started . It was a good book , but harrowing. They were all young Guy Gibson the Wing Commander who lead the dams raid was 24 at time of that mission.
Impressive tour many thanks.
My uncle Fred was a rear gunner in a Lanc, he did 27 ops including lots of raids into Germany.
Several times his aircraft “T for Tommy” came back damaged and with an engine or two out.
He also did flights on Flying Fortresses as rear and waist gunner. But he survived the war.
Looking at that journey to the rear turret really makes you think. Although most were young men, one can try to imagine the horrendous task of getting out of there, grabbing a parachute and exiting the aircraft if it were going down. Not forgetting the G forces if it were rolling or spinning out of control. Plus the fact that you might have been shot or wounded at the time.
Thank goodness the men and women of bomber command have been finally recognised for their devotion to duty and sacrifices now, a bloody shame it took so very long.
Lest we forget
I once knew a rear turret gunner, you'd need to be very quick to make sure you could get out. He'd briefly joined a crew on one Lancaster- he complained they were too chatty - after he left to return to his normal crew that crew were killed. It was the luck of the draw.
"Lest We Forget !" indeed, especially so at this time of year, Remembrance in U.K.G.B. !
Thanks Paul..a fantastic tour. Friends father was a rear gunner and survived the war. He had some fascinating stories...only wish I had recorded them. Told me how when all was calm and he got bored he would swing the turret causing the plane to yaw and get a few swear words from the pilot.
Glad you enjoyed it Ron. Thanks for the amusing story about the rear gunner! Geez he'd have some stories!
Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, has a flying Avro Lancaster MK X with four Packard Merlin 224s. One of only two in the world that can still fly.
A few years ago I dated a German woman,who's grandfather flew for the Luftwaffe during WWII. He told me incredible stories of his time fighting in Defence of the Reich. Told me incredible stories of the plane he flew in,the FW190 and the planes he shot down. Amongst them were several American and British bombers. Also some fighter planes,like the Spitfire,Mustang and Typhoon. He got shot several times,got injured but survived the war. He flew for the Luftwaffe after the war in F4 Phantoms. I am glad I met this brave man...
Dad was C.E. section (construction engineer) when in the army. We were posted to Lahr Germany in the early 80s. We became very good friends and pretty well extended family of the owners of the Hirsch Tanlin (i know I got that wrong!!) in Lahr. Herr Putz was a lieutenant in the luftwaffe. Here we are considered family with them and in the same lifetime we were bitter enemies. It is a lesson of life that I learnt when I was really young. Being an Army brat was the best way growing up!!
He might have been flying the lone FW 190 that murdered many children when he staffed them at play in their school . My mother told me and worked with mothers at C&A in Peckham. That Pilot was not at all brave just Carrying out Hitlers Orders blindly and willingly.😢
Just watched your B17 tour, now enjoyed your Lanc one (copied it to a mate whose dad was a tail gunner), please give your self a virtual reality hand shake from me, nice simple clear delivery, very respectful of those who had to fight in these.
Cheers, glad you enjoyed it. Check out my B-29 tour too :)
What an extremely rare review of the legend. I treasured this video very much. Thank you so much Paul for your comprehensive preparation for this video.
Glad you enjoyed it Anthony
Incredible that they allowed you to touch and crawl around the Lancaster! Amazing access to an incredible plane. Thanks for the great video!
It was a great experience. The whole tour that I did is also open to the public too. :)
Awesome tour Paul. I appreciate the effort you put into this video along with the informative commentary. We have a restored Lancaster in Auckland, New Zealand. My great uncle was a navigator on one during the war, unfortunately plane & crew killed on a bombing raid. I have his medals and log book now. Thanks again.
My father did his national service in the mid-later 40s as a radio mechanic working on Lancasters and other piston planes. He remembered them with great fondness. It was nice to see the details of the machines in your video.
Glad you enjoyed the video. It's incredible what they endured
The RR Merlin was a sensational engine at that time.
Great to see RR get the recent B52 re-engine contract!
Today, the GE9X holds that “Merlin” wow factor!
Thanks Paul, such wonderful insights into the Arvo Lancaster.
Cheers Hamish
Those engines in that Mk X Lancaster were the PACKARD, built in AMERICA, FYI !!! Some of the 37,137 built by PACKARD for the Brits during the war.
And thank you for the video. Now I know so much more when I go back and watch my 360 video of being inside the Lancaster.
A really enjoyable video Paul! I must admit that I thought the Lancaster was a bigger aircraft! We owe those brave men our gratitude.
I´ve seen a fair number of guided tours through the Lancaster. This was by far the most thorough and knowledgable of them all so far. I don´t often praise people, but well done mate.
What a satisfying and engrossing twenty minutes - you couldn't have done a better job, Paul!
The most interesting and comprehensive tour of a WW2 aircraft I’ve seen thanks Paul. The interchangeably of aircraft parts was a practical approach to aircraft design, but I had no idea this was done until watching your vlog. Also, the Rolls Royce Merlin engines used on the Lancasters,, so interesting! Well done again mate✌️
Glad you enjoyed it James
What a fantastic museum. Thank you for sharing such an important aircraft with us all. Huge hats of congratulations to the museum. They have provided a magnificent tribute to all the amazing crews who made the ultimate sacrifice. Humbling, and awe inspiring, when we think of how young they were. Incredible. Thank you Paul.
Thanks for this tour. My dad flew these in WW2. He trained bomber crews early in the war. He survived the war and came home. Always wanted to see what he flew. Now I know. Thanks so much!
Glad you enjoyed it Prime Minister :)
When you consider that the spitfire was literally just one of those engines with a pilot attatched, you can understand the size of this plane
My uncle was a flight engineer on these and the Sunderlands, mostly with coastal command. He survived the war but suffered from occasional nightmares for the rest of his long life. It was interesting seeing what he had to contend with. After he retired he used to volunteer at the Cosford Air Museum.
Cool video, my dad worked on these in WW2 - radar mostly. Almost died when someone accidentally hit the bomb release on the tarmac. My dads comment - you wouldn’t believe how difficult it was to exit the aircraft in an emergency, and this was stationary on the tarmac - goodness knows how anyone got out inflight. And yes the Lancaster exploded just after he got out, made a big hole and he was initially posted as missing in action - for the second time!
My Grandfather call sign Swany was a Lancaster pilot during the war. I was lucky enough to know my grandad. Thank you for the video,it really gives me an idea of what he did.
Wow! Really enjoyed that! I had no idea the fuselage was so narrow. Thank you for a very detailed look inside the legendary Lancaster.
This is exactly my sort of video I love to watch. Coffee in hand, Biscuits and a Warm Fire. Life it good 🇬🇧
One of the best aircraft interior tours I've seen. The little details you added like the inteechangable parts adds much to the story.
Glad you enjoyed it Frank
As a life long aviation nerd I like to have a good design quirk or amazing feature to talk about in my pocket for any aircraft I come across. You always have one but often two that I have never read about. My hat is off to you sir .
Glad you enjoyed the video Chris. Check out my B-17 and B-29 tours too :)
It’s often overlooked the number of tours the young RAF guys did in WW2. An incredible contribution. The fact that bomber command is controversial should not detract from their efforts and sacrifices - it’s only fair there is the memorial to them now in London.
I grew up with this Lancaster at the Bullcreek museum, its been a number of years since I saw it last, it has been wonderfully restored. I have never actually been able to see inside it, so this was a fantastic video. The first time I saw it was back in the 90s. They have a Dakota there that my dad was a passenger on a number of times in the RAAF in the 1960s.
Fantastic tour of this magnificent aircraft! The narration and identification of key parts of the the plane was really excellent. I found your explanations of components to be delivered at exactly the point I was to wondering what they were. So good to see parts of the plane I have read about, giving an excellent understanding of their size. For example the main wing spar !
Glad you enjoyed the video Andy!
I just love the way you present these very informative videos on ww2 Aviation History, you sir are the most thorough and informative individual. Thank you for your painstaking efforts to preserve Aviation History
Glad to hear you enjoy my work :)
Great tour thanks.interesting about the fuel tanks being replenished with nitrogen.
Also the ammo trays for the rear gunner.
Truly appreciate this channel.
Best review of a Lancaster ever. Thx.
My father, Flt Sgt Leslie W Cromarty DFM, was a rear gunner, almost completing 40 ops, most with 61 Squadron and the remainder with 189. His life was saved by his Irving seat parachute when the aircraft was blown apart by 'Shrage Musik' (upward firing cannons). The rest of the crew perished, sadly, as there was no fuselage left for them to retrieve their parachutes.
Your father, Flt Sgt Leslie W Cromarty DFM, Rear Gunner ('Tail End Charlie' ) & sole survivor, in such a dangerous aircraft position to fly in, rear attacks usually getting the tail gunner first . . .
. . . Thank you for recounting this unusual true story of the upward firing cannon ( I was aware of this particular weapon. ) & really so interesting to read of your father escaping when unfortunately for them, no other members of his crew did survive !
My friend an I are plane enthusiasts who discovered your channel at the same time. We love you channel.
Welcome :)
My mother worked wiring the cockpit at Malton Ont Canada during the war. A other interesting story related to flight is that as a young boy saw the Avro Arrow flying back to Malton from a test flight .
😲😲WHAT IS THAT FEELING .. to sit in that glass cabin on the tale above the clouds!😲 eating chocolate to get warm, on early morning around the sky FOG! 😲 flying for some where! AMAZING!
My friend's late father was a brave, and very young, Lancaster rear gunner. He was lucky enough to survive his tour of duty, and the war. Which was lucky for my friend too of course, as she wasn't born until many years later.
Just an amazing experience to do the tour in the lanc did it a couple years ago and have since found out my grandmas cousin served in the 460th squadron his name was Edwin John Ross have nothing but respect for him and all that served
Hey Paul, great video. My late grandfather flew Lancasters in WW2. I recently found amongst some documents the original flight manual for it plus some other handling notes. When I first saw a Lancaster in the metal I couldn’t believe how big they were, and he flew them having only 800hrs in his logbook!
Awesome walk through. What a beautiful machine. Thanks to all who served
The tour was awesome. Have you ever seen our Canadian Lancaster in flight? She's a loud old girl, but she still serves the skies with a throaty growl the way only four Merlins can. I had the opportunity to visit the Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum in Hamilton, Ontario, and got the biggest thrill I think I ever had on this earth up to that point. An actual British pilot that served with the RAF during WW2 was on hand to take me through the Mynarski Lancaster's history, and then shared his stories of flying his missions over Germany those many decades ago. Some guys will worship a celebrity or a sports hero, for me, this dude was all I ever wanted in a personal hero. Incidentally, he never called himself one, that's just my view of what he, and so many other committed service persons gave of themselves in order to ensure that I had the freedom to sit here and gush about that day like a moron. I have never been inside a Lancaster, so for me, your tour was the cherry on top. Thanks so much for offering it up for everyone to experience.
there is only 2 still flying 1 canadian 1 british
@@margarita8442 Yes, the City of Lincoln and Mynarski tribute Lancasters. I believe Just Jane is still being worked on to eventually join these two old workhorses.
Understand that a mission could have a duration of 8 hrs.! Incredible in that machine. Brave men indeed.
Sounds like it would totally suck serving on board one of these big birds. Great tour as usual. Ingenious how they ran the tail gunners ammo down the length of the aircraft to keep COG balanced!
Thank you for doing this. It's Remembrance Day in Canada and my dad was a bomber in a Lancaster at 20 years of age. I had no idea where he had actually sat to operate the bombs...what intense stress that must have been. This is how I chose to spend my 11:11. Thanks
I remember, way back in the day, when this plane was sitting near the carpark at Perth Airport. That was many years ago, before they built the museum at Bull Creek and moved this plane there.
I was just a young boy when the Perth aircraft Museum took possession of this Lancaster...I have a photo of my brother and I standing in front of it when it was still on display outside. This museum is one of the best of it's kind in the world...one of my favourite places in Perth. edit spelling
I was on board a Lancaster in England when I Was a child. I never forget it.
Sadly when I returned as a grown up, the plane was no longer open for the public, due to some radioactive instruments and health issues.
Great tour of this iconic aircraft. From an Aussie and a Brit in the UK.
Great video as usual Paul. Really makes you appreciate how uncomfortable it must of been on a flight, never mind an actual raid. I dips my lid to them all…….Lest We Forget.
Cheers Mark. Yes, lest we forget. 😔
That was fascinating, thank you. The matching dial panels were really inspired and I had never heard that before.👏🏻
Glad you enjoyed it! I’m off to the USA in August to film the B-24, 36 and 47 so keep an eye out on my channel :)
@@PaulStewartAviation I envy you that Paul, you have a great time. I’ll follow your channel avidly because the format and your enthusiasm are just right. Plus you’re showing me things I would never see otherwise. Every success buddy.
@@patrickbarrett5650 cheers!
Wow, they're smaller than I thought they'd be. I'm a shortar*e and even I'd struggle in that space! It's amazing what they had to do and go through 80 odd years ago. You really needed to know how to do multiple roles in aircraft like this, otherwise you'd be a sitting duck if you didn't know how to operate the gun turrets or navigate or essentially useless if you weren't able to position and release the bombs over your intended targets and end up wasting the munitions on empty land or what have you. Thanks taking us through Paul.
My uncle Donald Hudson was a Lancaster pilot with the RCAF and trained in Canada. I have a copy of his log book from his bombing missions over Germany. Amazing plane.
A minor point, Paul: in the cockpit you referred to the compass repeater and next to it a "turn and bank indicator" (at the top of the panel); this last twin needle indicator is in fact a DF (direction finder) indicator which is fed by the R1155 radio receiver back at the wireless operator's desk. (I have one which works with my R1155 and its loop antenna plus a long wire antenna) :-) . A repeater DF indicator may also be found at the navigator's desk.
The Lanc at East Kirkby (Lincs) is well worth a visit.
An excellent video.
Thanks Alexander. Yes I stand corrected with that point. Glad you enjoy it otherwise :)
@@PaulStewartAviation Thanks, Paul (from Sth Aus).
Awesome... we have a Lancaster in a museum here also we had a Kiwi Dambuster pass away a few years ago his name was Les Munro...thanks mate. 👍🇳🇿
Glad you enjoyed it!
Famous Les Munro no less R.I.P. !
Fantastic video. I can't begin to imagine the conditions on a distant raid. The bravery of those crews makes me feel very humble indeed.
RIP to ALL the men who lost their lives.
Allied and Enemy. 🙏 😢
Agreed
Another excellent walkthrough. I really like that you add information about the men who flew these aircraft. It’s very important to remember their sacrifice.
Absolutely! The physical discomfort would be as bad as the existential discomfort knowing you could be killed at any second!
Fascinating video. Thanks for posting. My father was a Lancaster pilot. Your video provided many details of which I wasn't previously aware.
Awesome video. Have really enjoyed your recent videos on historic and interesting aircraft. Look forward to your next one.
Yeh I agree. With Aussie borders closed, it had been interesting seeing these types of videos.
cheers mate
Very nice of them to let you enter and film the insides.
It's actually a tour you can book. It takes about an hour and a half and I did it last year - the virtual reality bombing raid over Germany was a fantastic follow up too. Incredible experience...
Paul, that was an excellent and very informative video on the Lancaster bomber! You did your research and explained it all well. My uncle was a navigator on a Lancaster and was shot down over Germany so it was with keen interest to me to see what he must have experienced. I never realized how skinny it was, you would have to be men of steel to go into battle in those. Thanks again for the informative video.
Cheers Bruce. Absolutely! Those brave men (kids often!!) did an incredible job.
Ahhhhhh yeah , the casualty station looks like the most comfortable spot in the plane. Great video Paul and a well detailed look inside the Lancaster , one of my favorite bombers of WW2. And coincidentally enough I just watched The Dam Busters the other day. Good movie !
I had the honor of being in a Lancaster at an air show here in B.C. Canada, one of only two airworthy examples. We entered up through the nose hatch. As was said, so very narrow inside, the B-17 I was in was a bit wider, of course most of the equipment had been taken out.
Wow. This was amazing.
Imagine trying to crawl through there trying to get out while the plane is going down.... while trying to strap on a parachute.
That was a really enjoyable video Paul! I visit Perth frequently as I have family there but I didn't realise there was an aviation museum there, let alone a Lancaster! I'll definitely be booking a visit here next time I visit. Greetings from Adelaide. :)
Glad you enjoyed it. Yes I'm glad people recommended the museum to me as I also didn't know it was in Perth :)
@@PaulStewartAviation It looks so much like the MOTAT aircraft park in Auckland NZ. Had to look at the description to know you were in Perth
The interior look absolutely complete. Amazing
Interesting thank you for bringing us along 👍
Glad you enjoyed
Nice work Paul, thanks.
Glad you enjoyed it
Many of the rear turret gunners would remove the perspex screen in front of them, it allowed a better view. Spotting a German night fighter was hard and every bit of visibility gained could mean spotting him before he spotted you. It must have been extremely uncomfortable! By all accounts the heated flight suits were not the most reliable either.
The tail gunner was very exposed and often targeted first by German night fighters. I've read accounts of Lancs that made it back and what was left of the poor tail gunner had to be hosed out of the rear turret, such was the damage that German cannons did to them.