The Avro Lancaster was a four-engine heavy bomber utilised by the squadron for training and operational purposes from March 1944 to March 1946
No. 35 Squadron started to re-equip with the Avro Lancaster on 6th March 1944
Lancaster variants used by No 35 Squadron
The squadron utilised the following variants of the Lancaster:
- B.I
- NG434 NG436 NG440
- NN805
- PB726 PB762 PB951 PB981 PB982 PB985 PB987 PB988 PB989
- RF139 RF140 RF180 RF183
- SW255 SW263 SW266
- B.III
- JA857
- JB239
- LM346 LM646
- ME331 ME333 ME334 ME335 ME337 ME361 ME362 ME367 ME368 ME369 ME484 ME620 ME621
- ND359 ND453 ND597 ND643 ND645 ND646 ND648 ND649 ND653 ND690 ND691 ND692 ND693 ND694 ND696 ND697 ND701 ND702 ND703 ND704 ND708 ND709 ND711 ND731 ND734 ND735 ND755 ND759 ND762 ND818 ND846 ND907 ND916 ND928 ND928 ND929 ND933 ND936 ND936
- NE175
- PA966 PA971 PA988
- PB123 PB124 PB183 PB197 PB199 PB200 PB257 PB268 PB288 PB305 PB307 PB308 PB343 PB364 PB366 PB367 PB372 PB377 PB383 PB523 PB529 PB555 PB566 PB583 PB589 PB612 PB613 PB614 PB676 PB678 PB683 PB684 PB685 PB754 PB951 PB971 PB973 PB980 PB991
- RF183
Avro Lancaster Profile © Malcolm Barrass
The B.III was identical to the B.I version in terms of design, but it was powered by Packard-Merlin engines (28, 38 or 224), which had been built by Packard in the United States. The B.I was powered by Rolls-Royce Merlin engines (XX, 22 or 24) built in the UK
(It is worth noting that the squadron also used the BI(FE) variant post war – see separate page)
Aircraft on charge of No 35 Squadron
The following provides more detail on each aircraft that was on charge of the squadron
- J_ Serials
- LM Serials
- ME Serials
- ND Serials
- NE Serials
- NG Serials
- NN Serials
- PA Serials
- PB Serials
- RF Serials
- SW Serials
Aircraft Losses and Incidents
1944
- Lancaster ME620 (08/05/1944)
- Lancaster ND597 (24/03/1944)
- Lancaster ND643 (03/05/1944)
- Lancaster ND646 (30/03/1944)
- Lancaster ND649 (22/03/1944)
- Lancaster ND653 (14/06/1944)
- Lancaster ND690 (11/07/1944)
- Lancaster ND690 (19/10/1944)
- Lancaster ND690 (31/07/1944)
- Lancaster ND691 (12/09/1944)
- Lancaster ND691 (13/06/1944)
- Lancaster ND694 (02/07/1944)
- Lancaster ND694 (27/04/1944)
- Lancaster ND696 (24/04/1944)
- Lancaster ND697 (24/03/1994)
- Lancaster ND697 (29/04/1944)
- Lancaster ND701 (09/04/1944)
- Lancaster ND702 (11/09/1944)
- Lancaster ND702 (24/06/1944)
- Lancaster ND702 (28/04/1944)
- Lancaster ND703 (21/05/1944)
- Lancaster ND703 (24/03/1944)
- Lancaster ND708 (15/03/1944)
- Lancaster ND731 (04/07/1944)
- Lancaster ND734 (23/06/1944)
- Lancaster ND734 (26/04/1944)
- Lancaster ND755 (19/10/1944)
- Lancaster ND755 (23/08/1944)
- Lancaster ND759 (27/04/1944)
- Lancaster ND762 (22/05/1944)
- Lancaster ND846 (04/07/1944)
- Lancaster ND916 (13/12/1944)
- Lancaster ND916 (23/06/1944)
- Lancaster ND928 (19/10/1944)
- Lancaster ND929 (08/05/1944)
- Lancaster ND929 (24/07/1944)
- Lancaster ND936 (22/07/1944)
- Lancaster NE175 (24/07/1944)
- Lancaster PA971 (26/08/1944)
- Lancaster PB197 (15/08/1944)
- Lancaster PB197 (18/11/1944)
- Lancaster PB199 (29/11/1944)
- Lancaster PB200 (28/07/1944)
- Lancaster PB307 (24/09/1944)
- Lancaster PB308 (12/09/1944)
- Lancaster PB366 (24/12/1944)
- Lancaster PB367 (23/12/1944)
- Lancaster PB372 (23/12/1944)
- Lancaster PB555 (27/09/1944)
- Lancaster PB612 (28/10/1944)
- Lancaster PB678 (23/12/1944)
- Lancaster PB683 (23/12/1944)
- Lancaster PB685 (23/12/1944)
1945
- Lancaster ME331 (26/03/1945)
- Lancaster ME333 (05/03/1945)
- Lancaster ME334 (04/02/1945)
- Lancaster ME334 (05/01/1945)
- Lancaster ME335 (21/02/1945)
- Lancaster ME337 (05/01/1945)
- Lancaster ME361 (07/03/1945)
- Lancaster ME362 (15/01/1945)
- Lancaster ME367 (21/02/1945)
- Lancaster ME369 (12/04/1945)
- Lancaster ME484 (15/09/1945)
- Lancaster ME487 (30/11/1945)
- Lancaster ND645 (22/03/1944)
- Lancaster NG436 (16/01/1945)
- Lancaster NG440 (08/04/1945)
- Lancaster NG440 (18/03/1945)
- Lancaster NG485 (19/07/1945)
- Lancaster NN805 (19/07/1945)
- Lancaster PB343 (05/01/1945)
- Lancaster PB377 (14/04/1945)
- Lancaster PB684 (07/02/1945)
- Lancaster PB684 (14/01/1945)
- Lancaster PB684 (18/05/1945)
- Lancaster PB685 (10/02/1945)
- Lancaster PB726 (25/11/1945)
- Lancaster PB754 (17/08/1945)
- Lancaster PB762 (17/08/1945)
- Lancaster PB762 (17/10/1945)
- Lancaster RF139 (19/07/1945)
- Lancaster SW263 (20/08/1945)
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Crew / Crew Positions
The Avro Lancaster was typically crewed by a Pilot, Navigator, Air Bomber, Wireless Operator, two Air Gunners and a Flight Engineer.
However, with the development of radar, the concept of a “navigation team” was introduced and an additional navigator / air bomber, known as a Set Operator, was incorporated into the crew to monitor the radar set. The Navigator became known as the Nav. (Plotter) and the Set Operator as the Nav. (Radar)
We Guide to Strike by Gil Cohen
The crew compartment in an Avro Lancaster consisted of a deck to accommodate the Pilot, Navigator (and the Set Operator when introduced), Air Bomber, Wireless Operator and Flight Engineer. Gunners were accommodated in a mid and rear turret – read more –
