Luftwaffe and Allied Air Forces Discussion Forum

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- - 617 Sq. Lancs (http://forum.12oclockhigh.net/showthread.php?t=13080)

Pathfinder

14th May 2008 21:29

617 Sq. Lancs

I believe the Lancs used for the 'Operation Chastise' were the Mk 1 Specials with bomb bay doors and dorsal turrets removed.

My question is about the trainable m/g apparenty installed in the lower fuselage behind the bomb bay. Can anyone confirm this and is there any photographic evidence available? A long shot I know.........

Kutscha

15th May 2008 00:56

Re: 617 Sq. Lancs

No gunners are listed for the gun, so doubt it was fitted. The upper turret was removed to save weight.

http://www.thedambusters.org.uk/index.html

Ex Shack

15th May 2008 10:09

Re: 617 Sq. Lancs

Hi
617 Sqn a/c were never fitted with "belly" guns. An early(1959) book "Famous Bombers of the 2nd World War" by William Green shows one such 617 a/c ED817with a clean underside aft of the bomb bay (doors removed). There was an attempt to provide lower guns but only 2 Lancs were modified and I don't think any ever went into production. In any case the likely site for such guns was also where the H2S radar aerial was fitted as the war progressed.
Regards
Dick

Pathfinder

15th May 2008 11:37

Re: 617 Sq. Lancs

Great, thanks for that information Kutscha and Dick.

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