British WW2 heavy bomber designed by Roy Chadwick and built by Avro in the UK, as well as under license in Canada (Mk X). It evolved out of Chadwicks earlier design, the Avro Manchester, which was universally hated by all who were condemned to fly it, due to poor engine design. When Chadwick was able to get hold of 4 precious Rolls-Royce Merlin V-12 engines, he put them on the Manchester, lengthened the wings, and a legend was born.
The Lancaster was the mainstay of RAF Bomber Command from 1942 onwards, and was used for a variety of specialist tasks such as attacking the Ruhr Dams and sinking the Tirpitz. Its main role however, was in the great Area Raids which laid waste to many German cities by night whilst the Americans attacked by day.
It was the most effective bomb hauler in the Allies European Arsenal (the Boeing B-29 Superfortress could carry a larger bomb load, but was only employed in the Pacific against Japan towards the end of the War), and could carry almost twice the load of its US counterparts in Europe, these being the Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress and the Consolidated B-24 Liberator bombers.
Approximately 7000 Lancasters were built, of which roughly 4000 were lost on operational service, i.e. shot down by enemy night-fighters, anti-aircraft fire, or crashes.
Although controversy still rages over the employment of the Lancaster during the Strategic Air Offensive against Germany (Lancasters were the only bombers used by the RAF for the Dresden Raid of 13/14 Feb 1945 for example), there is little dispute that it was one of the greatest aircraft designs of the Second World War.
The Lancaster was the mainstay of RAF Bomber Command from 1942 onwards, and was used for a variety of specialist tasks such as attacking the Ruhr Dams and sinking the Tirpitz. Its main role however, was in the great Area Raids which laid waste to many German cities by night whilst the Americans attacked by day.
It was the most effective bomb hauler in the Allies European Arsenal (the Boeing B-29 Superfortress could carry a larger bomb load, but was only employed in the Pacific against Japan towards the end of the War), and could carry almost twice the load of its US counterparts in Europe, these being the Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress and the Consolidated B-24 Liberator bombers.
Approximately 7000 Lancasters were built, of which roughly 4000 were lost on operational service, i.e. shot down by enemy night-fighters, anti-aircraft fire, or crashes.
Although controversy still rages over the employment of the Lancaster during the Strategic Air Offensive against Germany (Lancasters were the only bombers used by the RAF for the Dresden Raid of 13/14 Feb 1945 for example), there is little dispute that it was one of the greatest aircraft designs of the Second World War.
Some good reference material:
1. 'Night Bombers', Documentary DVD. Rare colour footage of Wartime Bomber Station in England, lots of Lancaster bomber stuff!
2. 'Enemy Coast Ahead', by W/Cdr Guy Gibson, VC, DSO/Bar,DFC (he was the leader of the famous 'Dambuster' raid, he was killed in action just after he wrote this book)
3. 'Dambusters' by Paul Brickhill (Peter Jackson is remaking the original movie from the 1950's)
1. 'Night Bombers', Documentary DVD. Rare colour footage of Wartime Bomber Station in England, lots of Lancaster bomber stuff!
2. 'Enemy Coast Ahead', by W/Cdr Guy Gibson, VC, DSO/Bar,DFC (he was the leader of the famous 'Dambuster' raid, he was killed in action just after he wrote this book)
3. 'Dambusters' by Paul Brickhill (Peter Jackson is remaking the original movie from the 1950's)
by wjskyout July 20, 2009
Get the Lancaster Bomber mug.When soemone talks to you about absolutely useless stuff that you have no interest in whatsoever and you ignore. Then youve been bannistered
Person 1:"silent"
Person 2:Well you see mario is actually a racial stereotype of blah blah blah italian blah blah pizza blah blah pipe woo luigi blah lol.
Person 1:"facepalms self"
Person 3:Dude you just got bannistered..
Person 2:Well you see mario is actually a racial stereotype of blah blah blah italian blah blah pizza blah blah pipe woo luigi blah lol.
Person 1:"facepalms self"
Person 3:Dude you just got bannistered..
by Chode55 March 30, 2009
Get the Bannistered mug.Related Words
ohio city which has the highest per catita of lazy ass losers which would rather sit on their couch which is on the front porch and drink cheap beer than get a job and do something with their lives.
You ever drive around the west side of lancaster, ohio during the middle of a weekday? Most of the porches are occupied.
by Jim Mack May 31, 2006
Get the lancaster, ohio mug.Located in the state of Pennsylvania. The only place where you will see Ghetto people and Amish people live in harmony.
by toxic-flame November 9, 2010
Get the Lancaster mug.A term that implies incest.
When you and one of your siblings says or does something with each other that seems incestuous like Jamie and Cersei Lannister from Game of Thrones would do - i.e. accidentally checking out your brother's ass from afar even if you didn't realize it was your brother or getting caught making out with them all Eurotrip style.
When you and one of your siblings says or does something with each other that seems incestuous like Jamie and Cersei Lannister from Game of Thrones would do - i.e. accidentally checking out your brother's ass from afar even if you didn't realize it was your brother or getting caught making out with them all Eurotrip style.
Brother: When I get there you gotta give me that booty!
Sister: Uhhh, that was a little to Lannistery for my taste....
Brother: No, I mean the money you owe me!
Sister: What are we, pirates?
Sister: Uhhh, that was a little to Lannistery for my taste....
Brother: No, I mean the money you owe me!
Sister: What are we, pirates?
by MoonWolf June 5, 2014
Get the Lannistery mug.a tiny motherfucking town in southwestern wisconsin, full of fake ass hoes and jocks who will forever be narcissistic and judgemental. if your daddy didn’t play football here STAY TF OUT
by fucklancasterwi July 7, 2019
Get the lancaster wisconsin mug.A goofy little country town in between the desert and mountains, just north of LA. Almost everyone has lived here there whole life, so everyone knows everyone. Seriously. You go "down below" to LA, and you see someone you know. Howdy Pardner!
It feels like it is stuck in the 1980s with its conservative politics, and the fact that everyone goes to church, I feel like I am in the Bible belt of the south. Many businesses are closed on Sunday. Lancaster has more churches per capita than any other city in CA.
Most everyone up here is in the military or works for an aerospace company.
Overall it is a good community, not much to do in terms of night-life, but the surrouding mountains and desert are good for people that like to bike or hike.
People move here once they have had their fun and just want to settle down, and ride a horse.
It feels like it is stuck in the 1980s with its conservative politics, and the fact that everyone goes to church, I feel like I am in the Bible belt of the south. Many businesses are closed on Sunday. Lancaster has more churches per capita than any other city in CA.
Most everyone up here is in the military or works for an aerospace company.
Overall it is a good community, not much to do in terms of night-life, but the surrouding mountains and desert are good for people that like to bike or hike.
People move here once they have had their fun and just want to settle down, and ride a horse.
Where are you from?
I am from Lancaster!
Oh really, I have family living in Pennsylvania.
No Lancaster in CA.
There's amish country in CA?
Well not really, but kind of, never mind. Lancaster is a little city in the Mojave Desert by Edwards Air Force Base.
Oh, Edwards, I have heard of Edwards, where the space shuttle lands, you should have said that earlier. I know exactly where that is!!
I am from Lancaster!
Oh really, I have family living in Pennsylvania.
No Lancaster in CA.
There's amish country in CA?
Well not really, but kind of, never mind. Lancaster is a little city in the Mojave Desert by Edwards Air Force Base.
Oh, Edwards, I have heard of Edwards, where the space shuttle lands, you should have said that earlier. I know exactly where that is!!
by iamquitesmart September 29, 2012
Get the Lancaster mug.