Lancaster at War
 

Where do I look to find the full operational history of a Lancaster during WW2. Operations, crew, what became off it during or after the war? Many thanks. Nigel McCrery

Re: Lancaster at War
 

Hello Nigel,

Are you looking for a particular aircraft or a general history?

https://www.amazon.com/Avro-Lancaste...%2C224&sr=1-12

Re: Lancaster at War
 

For a Squadron history I would recommend:

“We Wage War by Night”: An Operational and Photographic History of No.622 Squadron RAF Bomber Command
(Schiffer Publishing 2011)
by Howard J. Sandall (622 Squadron historian)
336 pages w/ 400+ b&w photos
hardback
$69.99

"622 Sqdn. was just one of many Bomber Squadrons whose airmen carried out nightly missions, putting their lives “on the line” for King and Country during WWII. This account is relayed through the memoirs, diaries and letters of the men and women who fought and died throughout this dark period. These young men came from all parts of the Commonwealth to unite under the banner of freedom and democracy. By war’s end, they had forged themselves into one of the most formidable fighting forces in the history of air warfare."

https://www.schifferbooks.com/we-wag...mand-1055.html

Re: Lancaster at War
 

I would agree with Ed. Your question, placed in the Luftwaffe not Allied section, is not clear if you want to know about one specific Lancaster or Lancasters in general. Your title would indicate the latter as it is the title of a series of books published in the 70s & 80s. If the former, give the serial number?

Re: Lancaster at War
 

7000 odd Lancasters did around 156,000 sorties in WW2. There is only one place that will tell you them all, see link

Books wise there are four good books

Probably the best is - Avro Lancaster, Mason, Aston Publications, 0946627304, 1989

Good but slightly less detail - Avro Lancaster the Definitive Record (2nd Ed), Holmes, Airlife, 1840372885, 2001

Less good due to age, but can be picked up for sensible money second hand - Lancaster Story of a Famous Bomber, Robertson, Harleyford, 6314330, 1964

Good but very specific - The Lancaster File, Halley, Air Britain, 085130107X, 1985

All these books list all the Lancasters and show what squadrons they flew with. Mason also gives details of the major operations for some/many a/c

If you have a particular Lancaster in mind then once you know the squadron and the time period then you can go to the Operations Record Books at the National Archives

https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/...oks-1939-1945/

One or two books exist on particular squadrons where the author has done all the work for you but these are rather rare. This is the only source that will give you every operation by a particular a/c, its crew etc

However the process of finding the information is not easy and requires effort. It is addictive though.

Martin

Re: Lancaster at War
 

As usual you offer your help in a practical and I have to say very kind manner. Im looking into the operational history of about thirty Lancs information on which I will post later, also their crews. Bigger job than I thought, but have a year so I am sure I will get there. Many thanks as ever. Nigel

Re: Lancaster at War
 

Another good series of books would be "Lancaster At War" five books about the Lancaster operations and very readable....