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My initial reaction is that I would be amazed if any kind of illumination was fitted inside the tail turret, or any other turret, of any British bomber. I have not double checked, nor can I until I return to the UK in a week or so.
The navigator on a Lancaster did indeed have a light but was shielded by a curtain from the front part of the aircraft.
Any light could give an aircraft's position away at night with fatal consequences.
More practically, given the lack of room in the Lancaster's rear turret, I'm struggling to think where and how such a light might have been fitted.
Cheers
Steve
From what I've seen, the Stirling, Wellington and Lancaster all used the "Anglepoise" lamp with the narrow hood.
Here's the navigator's section from a Stirling (note the lamp to the right of the plotting table):
View attachment 355725
As cramped as the turrets were, it's highly doubtful they would have had such a lamp in there and as you can see from the photo, even the plotting lamp's hood was much smaller in diameter.
Also, aside from fact that such a lamp would could be easily seen from a great distance at night (as Steve mentioned), it would have ruined the gunner's night vision.
Also, aside from fact that such a lamp would could be easily seen from a great distance at night (as Steve mentioned), it would have ruined the gunner's night vision.
Hi,
As we have been finding out, RCAF ref nos have most often no correlation to RAF ref nos eg
5C/551 RAF=Switch, double pole, 5 amps Type A, 2 1/4'' diameter
5C/551 RCAF=Filament, lamp (Which would have RAF 5L/ no)
So your 5CX/4856 may be the same as RCAF 5C/3395
Further. I have checked all my Lancaster manuals and results are:
Parts list for Lanc I & III, Air Publication 2062A and C published in 1943, electrical wiring & routing lists
only show the angle poise lamp for Navigator, lighting is described as follows:
15. General lighting and turret supplies—The general lighting services are
fed from one fuse, with the exceptions mentioned below, and the following
lamps are fitted. Two floodlamps, type B, are provided for the pilot (one on a
separate fuse), and single floodlamps for the wireless operator's station, for
the D.F. loop and for the electrical services panel. A cabin lamp is fitted on the
port side of the nose, at the wireless operator's station, at the rest station, just
aft of the rear spar, at the flare station, on the port side just forward of the main
door, and just forward of the draught-proof doors. A switch at the main door
controls the lamp on the opposite side. Two cockpit lamps, Mk. II, are fitted
to the front former for the bomb aimer, and a cockpit lamp is provided on each
of the following panels :- Bomb aimer's port and starboard panels, air observer's
panel (connected to the pilot's separate floodlamp fuse) and navigator's panel.
An angle poise chartboard lamp (Terry type L.315) is provided for the navigator's
table.
So for Lanc I & III the lamps at the rear section are given as 'Cabin lights' or 'Cabin lamps'
indicating fixed position 'dome' type lamps
Have also checked Crew notes and Avro Lancaster Haynes Owners Workshop Manual
with no mention of angle poise lamp in rear fuselage
Don't have information on other Lancaster variants or modifications
(possibly also Manchester, Lincoln or York, if we are sticking with Avro)
I might also suggest dropping a line to Dave (mail@dgsaviation.co.uk),
he may well have AP1086 Book 3 Part 2 which covers 5CX, he has been helpful in the past
Hope I have helped a little & not muddied the waters too much
Bobby
Hi,
As we have been finding out, RCAF ref nos have most often no correlation to RAF ref nos eg
5C/551 RAF=Switch, double pole, 5 amps Type A, 2 1/4'' diameter
5C/551 RCAF=Filament, lamp (Which would have RAF 5L/ no)
So your 5CX/4856 may be the same as RCAF 5C/3395
Further. I have checked all my Lancaster manuals and results are:
Parts list for Lanc I & III, Air Publication 2062A and C published in 1943, electrical wiring & routing lists
only show the angle poise lamp for Navigator, lighting is described as follows:
15. General lighting and turret supplies—The general lighting services are
fed from one fuse, with the exceptions mentioned below, and the following
lamps are fitted. Two floodlamps, type B, are provided for the pilot (one on a
separate fuse), and single floodlamps for the wireless operator's station, for
the D.F. loop and for the electrical services panel. A cabin lamp is fitted on the
port side of the nose, at the wireless operator's station, at the rest station, just
aft of the rear spar, at the flare station, on the port side just forward of the main
door, and just forward of the draught-proof doors. A switch at the main door
controls the lamp on the opposite side. Two cockpit lamps, Mk. II, are fitted
to the front former for the bomb aimer, and a cockpit lamp is provided on each
of the following panels :- Bomb aimer's port and starboard panels, air observer's
panel (connected to the pilot's separate floodlamp fuse) and navigator's panel.
An angle poise chartboard lamp (Terry type L.315) is provided for the navigator's
table.
So for Lanc I & III the lamps at the rear section are given as 'Cabin lights' or 'Cabin lamps'
indicating fixed position 'dome' type lamps
Have also checked Crew notes and Avro Lancaster Haynes Owners Workshop Manual
with no mention of angle poise lamp in rear fuselage
Don't have information on other Lancaster variants or modifications
(possibly also Manchester, Lincoln or York, if we are sticking with Avro)
I might also suggest dropping a line to Dave (mail@dgsaviation.co.uk),
he may well have AP1086 Book 3 Part 2 which covers 5CX, he has been helpful in the past
Hope I have helped a little & not muddied the waters too much
Bobby
My keyboard made a typo - should be 'dsgaviation' not dgsaviation -Just tried emailing mail@dgsaviation.co.uk and got "invalid recipient". So tried finding a website at dgsaviation.co.uk to source alternative email address, but no dice. If have any alternative, be grateful to receive. Cheers