A: It was a phenomenal plane. Firstly it had an amazing carrying capacity. It could carry up to 10 tonnes, which was far more than any other Allied bomber in the European theatre. The Grand Slam bomb used at the end of the conflict and carried by the Lancaster weighed 22,000lb.
Was the Avro Lancaster any good?
Although the Lancaster was primarily a night bomber, it excelled in many other roles, including daylight precision bombing, for which some Lancasters were adapted to carry the 12,000 lb (5,400 kg) Tallboy and then the 22,000 lb (10,000 kg) Grand Slam earthquake bombs (also designed by Wallis).
Was the Lancaster a good bomber?
Nevertheless, the Lancaster was far and away the most effective British heavy bomber of World War II, being far superior to its main competitor, the Halifax, in tons of bombs dropped per man-hour expended in production and maintenance.
Why was the Lancaster bomber so successful?
What made the Lancaster stand out from other British bombers of the era? Obviously, it’s capacity to carry bombs, it was almost a flying bomb bay. It could carry incredible bomb-loads and take the war into the heart of Germany, day after day after day.
What was the better bomber B17 or Lancaster?
Going on Wiki figures the Lancaster had approx 20% longer range (2,500 miles v 2000 for the B17).
What was the best British WW2 plane?
5 Best British Fighter Planes of WW2
- de Havilland DH.98 Mosquito.
- Hawker Hurricane.
- Supermarine Spitfire.
- Westland Welkin.
- Gloster Meteor.
Was the Lancaster better than the Halifax?
The Halifax’s Range, Cruising Height & Bomb Load were inferior to that of the Lancaster, with the result that Air Marshal Harris favoured the use of the latter.
What is the most feared bomber?
The Boeing B-29 was the biggest American bomber of the Second World War, but perhaps what made it the most deadly was that it was the aircraft that dropped the atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, which in a way makes the aircraft infamous.
Who was the best bomber in ww2?
1 Avro Lancaster – UK
By far the best bomber of the war. Carried a comparable bomb load to the B-29 years earlier. It took more than two B-17s to carry a comparable load into Germany. Most versatile heavy bomber of the war.
What is the best bomber ever built?
If precision, stealth, long-range, impressive payload and speed are the demands for the title of the best bomber in the world, the U.S. Air Force B-2 Spirit is untouchable. Its combination of these war-changing characteristics also makes it the most terrifyingly destructive force in the sky.
What was the most successful ww2 plane?
The P-51 is widely regarded as the finest all-around piston-engined fighter of World War II to have been produced in significant numbers. Approximately 1,500 Merlin-powered Mustangs were used by the RAF for daylight duties over Europe, and the plane was produced under license in Australia toward the end of the war.
What was the life expectancy of a Lancaster bomber crew?
The Lancaster was one of the most dangerous places to be in the entire war – the life expectancy of a new recruit was just two weeks.
How many Lancaster bombers lost in ww2?
3,736
The Avro Lancaster is a British four-engine heavy bomber used by the Royal Air Force and other Commonwealth air forces during World War II. Of the 7,377 aircraft built, 3,736 were lost during the War (3,249 in action and 487 in ground accidents).
Which was better B-24 or Lancaster?
While the B-24 had a better capacity than its competitor, the Lancaster far outshone them both. At maximum bomb load, the B-24 could carry 8000 lbs of ordinance, split between the two bomb bays.
Did the Lancaster bomber have a toilet?
During World War 2, large bomber aircraft, such as the American Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress and the British Avro Lancaster, carried chemical toilets (basically a bucket with seat and cover, see bucket toilet); in British use, they were called “Elsans” after the company that manufactured them.
What was the most used British bomber in ww2?
The Avro Lancaster bomber
The Avro Lancaster bomber was one of the most effective aircraft of World War II. They were used by the British Royal Air Force to carry 14,000lb (6,350kg) of bombs to Germany and even further. The Lancasters flew from Bomber Command’s bases in the east of England.
What is the most feared WW2 plane?
Junkers Ju87 Widely known as the “Stuka”, the Ju87 was one of the most feared aircraft during World War Two. It had a fearsome siren which terrified those who heard it.
What plane shot down most in WW2?
It is accurate to state that the P-38 did shoot down more Japanese aircraft than any other USAAF plane with 1,857, with the P-40 running a close second at 1,633.5.
Did a Spitfire ever fight a zero?
RAAF, & I think RAF, Spitfires fought the Zero over northern Australia, e.g. at Darwin, & RAF & RIAF Spitfires fought the Zero in NE India & Burma. Initially, the Spitfires performed poorly. Their pilots were accustomed to being able to dogfight successfully, & it was unwise to engage in turning fights with Zeroes.
Which two British planes were the most well known during the Battle of Britain?
The most famous fighter aircraft used in the Battle of Britain were the British Hawker Hurricane and Supermarine Spitfire Mk I, and the German Messerschmitt Bf 109 E variant (Emil) single-engined fighters.
Was the Halifax bigger than the Lancaster?
The smallest of the big three – being a fraction shorter than the Halifax – the Lancaster was said to be particularly strong and resilient with a smooth, quick flying experience for its size.