33k in the air
Staff Sergeant
- 1,219
- Jan 31, 2021
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Month | Type | Production | Program | Month | Type | Production | Program |
Jul-44 | FN.120/121 | 313 | 340 | Apr-45 | FN.82 | 75 | 85 |
Jul-44 | R.1 | 10 | 0 | Apr-45 | FN.120 | 65 | 0 |
Aug-44 | FN.120 | 277 | 350 | Apr-45 | FN.121 | 228 | 250 |
Aug-44 | FN.121 | 3 | in FN.120 | Apr-45 | R.2 Mark I | 17 | 60 |
Aug-44 | R.2 | 8 | 0 | May-45 | FN.82 | 62 | 115 |
Sep-44 | FN.120 | 269 | 400 | May-45 | FN.120 | 52 | 0 |
Sep-44 | FN.121 | 102 | in FN.120 | May-45 | FN.121 | 160 | 250 |
Sep-44 | R.2 | 17 | 0 | May-45 | R.2 Mark I | 27 | 60 |
Oct-44 | FN.120 | 160 | 430 | Jun-45 | FN.82 | 86 | 150 |
Oct-44 | FN.121 | 151 | in FN.120 | Jun-45 | FN.120 | 2 | 0 |
Oct-44 | R.2 | 14 | 0 | Jun-45 | FN.121 | 130 | 85 |
Nov-44 | FN.120 | 178 | 430 | Jun-45 | R.2 Mark I | 27 | 60 |
Nov-44 | FN.121 | 165 | in FN.120 | Jul-45 | FN.82 | 75 | 165 |
Nov-44 | R.2 | 12 | 0 | Jul-45 | FN.121 | 59 | 0 |
Dec-44 | FN.82 | 2 | 15 | Jul-45 | R.2 Mark I | 35 | 60 |
Dec-44 | FN.120 | 113 | 0 | Aug-45 | FN.82 | 87 | 190 |
Dec-44 | FN.121 | 197 | 228 | Aug-45 | FN.121 | 8 | 0 |
Dec-44 | R.2 | 14 | 20 | Aug-45 | R.2 Mark I | 13 | 60 |
Jan-45 | FN.82 | 28 | 26 | Sep-45 | FN.82 | 42 | 153 |
Jan-45 | FN.120 | 85 | 0 | Sep-45 | R.2 Mark I | 23 | 0 |
Jan-45 | FN.121 | 236 | 210 | Oct-45 | FN.82 | 69 | 117 |
Jan-45 | R.2 | 27 | 30 | Oct-45 | R.2 Mark I | 21 | 0 |
Feb-45 | FN.82 | 40 | 40 | Nov-45 | FN.82 | 80 | 0 |
Feb-45 | FN.120 | 95 | 0 | Nov-45 | R.2 Mark I | 6 | 0 |
Feb-45 | FN.121 | 164 | 217 | ||||
Feb-45 | R.2 | 24 | 30 | 1944 | Rose | 75 | total |
Mar-45 | FN.82 | 50 | 60 | 1945 | Rose | 246 | total |
Mar-45 | FN.120 | 97 | 0 | ||||
Mar-45 | FN.121 | 250 | 250 | ||||
Mar-45 | R.2 Mark I | 26 | 40 |
Maybe try finding a photograph with the turret fitted where the serial number is shown then look up the aircraft card to see if the change is noted.
mark | H2S | Total | Long term Store |
I | No | 86 | 61 |
I | Yes | 431 | 272 |
I | Unknown | 185 | 135 |
I Special | Unknown | 16 | 0 |
I (ASR) | Yes | 50 | 42 |
II | Unknown | 11 | 0 |
III | No | 62 | 48 |
III | Yes | 215 | 132 |
III (ASR) | Yes | 68 | 32 |
VI | Unknown | 0 | 0 |
VII | Unknown | 10 | 0 |
X | Unknown | 81 | 81 |
Total | Total | 1215 | 803 |
What did it look like?
The bulged bomb bay doors came in a number of styles as I understand it with plenty factory fitted but I have no information on numbers or serials.
Night of | 12000 HC | 8000 HC |
10-Apr-42 | 0 | 1 |
31-Jul-42 | 0 | 1 |
28-Aug-42 | 0 | 2 |
1-Sep-42 | 0 | 1 |
2-Sep-42 | 0 | 1 |
4-Sep-42 | 0 | 1 |
6-Sep-42 | 0 | 1 |
8-Sep-42 | 0 | 2 |
10-Sep-42 | 0 | 1 |
13-Sep-42 | 0 | 4 |
14-Sep-42 | 0 | 1 |
16-Sep-42 | 0 | 1 |
15-Oct-42 | 0 | 3 |
9-Nov-42 | 0 | 1 |
28-Nov-42 | 0 | 2 |
8-Dec-42 | 0 | 4 |
9-Dec-42 | 0 | 1 |
16-Jan-43 | 0 | 6 |
17-Jan-43 | 0 | 5 |
27-Jan-43 | 0 | 5 |
30-Jan-43 | 0 | 2 |
4-Feb-43 | 0 | 3 |
13-Feb-43 | 0 | 3 |
19-Feb-43 | 0 | 1 |
25-Feb-43 | 0 | 4 |
26-Feb-43 | 0 | 5 |
28-Feb-43 | 0 | 4 |
1-Mar-43 | 0 | 3 |
3-Mar-43 | 0 | 1 |
5-Mar-43 | 0 | 3 |
8-Mar-43 | 0 | 2 |
9-Mar-43 | 0 | 3 |
11-Mar-43 | 0 | 2 |
12-Mar-43 | 0 | 1 |
22-Mar-43 | 0 | 2 |
26-Mar-43 | 0 | 4 |
27-Mar-43 | 0 | 3 |
29-Mar-43 | 0 | 2 |
3-Apr-43 | 0 | 6 |
4-Apr-43 | 0 | 5 |
8-Apr-43 | 0 | 2 |
10-Apr-43 | 0 | 1 |
14-Apr-43 | 0 | 2 |
20-Apr-43 | 0 | 1 |
26-Apr-43 | 0 | 2 |
30-Apr-43 | 0 | 2 |
4-May-43 | 0 | 5 |
12-May-43 | 0 | 7 |
13-May-43 | 0 | 10 |
23-May-43 | 0 | 11 |
25-May-43 | 0 | 11 |
27-May-43 | 0 | 8 |
29-May-43 | 0 | 9 |
11-Jun-43 | 0 | 11 |
12-Jun-43 | 0 | 8 |
14-Jun-43 | 0 | 4 |
16-Jun-43 | 0 | 2 |
21-Jun-43 | 0 | 6 |
22-Jun-43 | 0 | 7 |
24-Jun-43 | 0 | 9 |
25-Jun-43 | 0 | 10 |
28-Jun-43 | 0 | 8 |
3-Jul-43 | 0 | 8 |
8-Jul-43 | 0 | 2 |
9-Jul-43 | 0 | 8 |
12-Jul-43 | 0 | 2 |
13-Jul-43 | 0 | 12 |
24-Jul-43 | 0 | 11 |
25-Jul-43 | 0 | 9 |
27-Jul-43 | 0 | 7 |
29-Jul-43 | 0 | 8 |
30-Jul-43 | 0 | 1 |
2-Aug-43 | 0 | 1 |
22-Aug-43 | 0 | 8 |
30-Aug-43 | 0 | 12 |
15-Sep-43 | 7 | |
22-Sep-43 | 0 | 10 |
23-Sep-43 | 0 | 3 |
8-Oct-43 | 0 | 18 |
18-Oct-43 | 0 | 19 |
22-Oct-43 | 0 | 4 |
3-Nov-43 | 0 | 5 |
11-Nov-43 | 10 | |
18-Nov-43 | 0 | 1 |
3-Dec-43 | 0 | 8 |
16-Dec-43 | 9 | |
20-Dec-43 | 2 | 19 |
23-Dec-43 | 0 | 4 |
30-Dec-43 | 9 | |
2-Jan-44 | 0 | 9 |
14-Jan-44 | 0 | 10 |
21-Jan-44 | 0 | 5 |
27-Jan-44 | 0 | 4 |
30-Jan-44 | 0 | 8 |
8-Feb-44 | 5 | |
12-Feb-44 | 9 | |
15-Feb-44 | 0 | 18 |
19-Feb-44 | 0 | 2 |
20-Feb-44 | 0 | 14 |
24-Feb-44 | 0 | 6 |
25-Feb-44 | 0 | 2 |
1-Mar-44 | 0 | 10 |
2-Mar-44 | 11 | |
9-Mar-44 | 0 | 2 |
15-Mar-44 | 0 | 11 |
16-Mar-44 | 10 | |
18-Mar-44 | 5 | 17 |
20-Mar-44 | 0 | 6 |
22-Mar-44 | 0 | 19 |
24-Mar-44 | 0 | 10 |
26-Mar-44 | 0 | 13 |
29-Mar-44 | 0 | 0 |
30-Mar-44 | 0 | 4 |
5-Apr-44 | 0 | 0 |
10-Apr-44 | 0 | 17 |
20-Apr-44 | 0 | 11 |
22-Apr-44 | 0 | 13 |
24-Apr-44 | 0 | 15 |
26-Apr-44 | 0 | 16 |
27-Apr-44 | 0 | 2 |
21-May-44 | 0 | 12 |
22-May-44 | 0 | 7 |
12-Aug-44 | 0 | 2 |
18-Aug-44 | 0 | 21 |
26-Aug-44 | 0 | 23 |
29-Aug-44 | 0 | 15 |
12-Sep-44 | 0 | 14 |
6-Oct-44 | 0 | 15 |
14-Oct-44 | 0 | 7 |
15-Oct-44 | 0 | 2 |
30-Oct-44 | 0 | 34 |
31-Oct-44 | 0 | 12 |
6-Nov-44 | 0 | 5 |
26-Nov-44 | 15 | |
28-Nov-44 | 2 | 7 |
4-Dec-44 | 4 | |
17-Dec-44 | 17 | |
21-Dec-44 | 0 | 5 |
2-Feb-45 | 1 | 2 |
3-Feb-45 | 0 | 2 |
8-Feb-45 | 0 | 3 |
13-Feb-45 | 0 | 1 |
14-Feb-45 | 0 | 1 |
20-Feb-45 | 0 | 1 |
3-Mar-45 | 18 | |
6-Mar-45 | 0 | 1 |
7-Mar-45 | 0 | 1 |
16-Mar-45 | 5 | |
4-Apr-45 | 2 | 6 |
9-Apr-45 | 2 | 4 |
13-Apr-45 | 6 | 1 |
14-Apr-45 | 0 | 16 |
Total | 149 | 883 |
Night of | 8000 M2 | 8000 AMTX |
20-Mar-44 | 7 | |
29-Mar-44 | 8 | |
5-Apr-44 | 0 | 16 |
Day | 8000 HC | 12000 HC |
7-Oct-44 | 17 | |
14-Oct-44 | 8 | |
18-Oct-44 | 10 | |
2-Nov-44 | 24 | |
4-Nov-44 | 8 | |
5-Nov-44 | 7 | |
8-Nov-44 | 2 | |
16-Nov-44 | 7 | |
4-Dec-44 | 9 | 5 |
5-Dec-44 | 7 | |
12-Dec-44 | 5 | 1 |
16-Dec-44 | 9 | 5 |
29-Dec-44 | 11 | 4 |
31-Dec-44 | 1 | |
1-Feb-45 | 2 | |
16-Feb-45 | 2 | |
18-Feb-45 | 5 | |
19-Feb-45 | 4 | |
22-Feb-45 | 4 | |
23-Feb-45 | 3 | |
25-Feb-45 | 4 | |
26-Feb-45 | 5 | |
27-Feb-45 | 3 | |
28-Feb-45 | 5 | |
2-Mar-45 | 5 | 2 |
4-Mar-45 | 3 | |
5-Mar-45 | 3 | 1 |
6-Mar-45 | 4 | |
9-Mar-45 | 2 | 1 |
10-Mar-45 | 2 | 1 |
11-Mar-45 | 2 | 15 |
12-Mar-45 | 2 | 15 |
14-Mar-45 | 4 | |
17-Mar-45 | 3 | 1 |
18-Mar-45 | 2 | |
19-Mar-45 | 2 | |
21-Mar-45 | 2 | 3 |
22-Mar-45 | 1 | |
27-Mar-45 | 3 | 3 |
29-Mar-45 | 3 | 1 |
22-Apr-45 | 2 | 3 |
Total | 205 | 63 |
A Halifax dropped one 8,000 pound bomb, for some reason the 1944 year total here for 12,000 pound bombs is 26 more than the official total, 26 is the total for in night raids in March 1944.
I don't believe that any of the Aeronavale Lancasters received Rose turrets. They did receive turrets to carry 2x0.5" but the Rose turret was only one of 3 types of 0.5" turret produced late war to fit British heavy bombers. There was aso the:-On the Rose Turrets, I think that all the AeroNaval Lancasters recovered from French Polynesia had Rose turrets (One is in MOTAT - NZ) and one in Britain at East Kirkby
33K: I understand that some of the earlier Lancaster X's were fitted with the bulged doors, but they never dropped this bomb. I'm not sure if they removed them. I seem to recall there were issues with those doors and the installation of H2S but am uncertain on that. I think the "64-Base" ORB's will be informative on both the doors and and the H2S installations.Interestingly, when adding up the number of Rose turrets produced from July 1944 through April 1945 in the table you provided, I get a total of 169, which is 11 short of the 180 in service by war's end mentioned by Harris. There were 27 built in May 1945, so some of those account for the remainder?
That's a good idea, although from what I recall there seem to few photos of the turret, and those usually only show the tail of the aircraft. But I'll go through the references I have again; there might yet be some photos there I overlooked.
I might as well ask the following while I'm at it:
Do you have any information on the rate at which bulged bomb bay doors were fitted to Lancasters? I have some information on that from going through the ORBs for 106 and 408 squadrons and looking at the bomb loads; if it carried an 8,000-lb bomb, it had the bulged doors fitted at some point. I recall reading somewhere that by war's end roughly one-third of Lancasters had the bulged doors, but then in another reference (I thought it was Harris' Despatch, but I might be wrong about that) it said only about 10% had them.
Also, do you have any data on the rate at which Bomber Command aircraft were fitted with H2S? I understand that as the war progressed more and more aircraft had it fitted, but I've not come across specific numbers showing the amount of aircraft so equipped at various points in time.
33K: I understand that some of the earlier Lancaster X's were fitted with the bulged doors, but they never dropped this bomb.
I'm not sure if they removed them. I seem to recall there were issues with those doors and the installation of H2S but am uncertain on that.
I think the "64-Base" ORB's will be informative on both the doors and and the H2S installations.
BTW, a colleague informs me the bulged doors were metal (aluminum) but thought they might have been lined with wood.That may be the case. I have the ORBs for 419 and 428 Squadrons which used the Mk X, as well as 405, 424, 427, and 429. which used the Mk I/III, but I haven't gone through them yet to record the bomb loads (and other information).
KB700 through KB854 apparently had the bulged doors and ventral turret installed. I've seen one reference which mentioned the ventral turret was removed after arrival in Britain. If the ORBs don't mention an 8th crew member/mid-under gunner for a given aircraft's sortie, then it is likely it did have the ventral turret removed.
I have to remember to check that source out.
I have a number of Lanc X's, early in their deployment to 419 Sqn. Note the position of the This is KB719, with the bulged doors and NO ventral turret and no H2S blister:
Jim
On Dad's trip to Mainz, 27-February-1945: "…A sidelight [sic] to the operation was the intersecting of bomber formations of Command and the U.S. 8th Air Force, which occurred over the France-Belgian border. Height separation prevented a traffic jam, and the returning "Forts" made an impressive picture as they flew by in impeccable formation." A review of the route indicates this probably occurred at the approach to TP8 on track and this is confirmed by F/Lt. Bruyns as 5E"Reading through this thread, I got to hoping there are pics of Lancs and Forts together.
Apologies for thread jacking.
Ahhhh! I have the battle orders for the November-1944 to end of war operations, if you want them. Or they can be found here:Starting in November, the ORB stops listing the full crew on an aircraft and only lists the pilot's name....
Serial Date of 1st No. of
Number Mission Missions
--------------------------------
DS727 1944-3-30/31 22
LL722 1944-5-8/9 13
LL725 1944-5-27/28 12
DS688 1944-4-10/11 11
DS730 1944-4-18/19 11
LL700 1944-6-8/9 11
LL634 1944-4-27/28 10
LL617 1944-6-6/7 10
DS707 1944-6-14/15 10
DS657 1944-4-26/27 9
DS726 1944-4-20/21 8
DS763 1944-5-11/12 8
LL642 1944-6-15/16 8
LL675 1944-6-9/10 7
DS838 1944-6-14/15 7
LL643 1944-4-18/19 6
LL636 1944-6-27/28 6
DS841 1944-6-21 5
DS729 1944-4-22/23 5
DS830 1944-6-15/16 5
DS705 1944-4-18/19 4
DS692 1944-6-8/9 4
DS722 1944-6-21 3
LL723 1944-4-10/11 2
DS684 1944-6-21 1
DS651 1944-7-06 1
DS634 1944-7-18 1
LL687 1944-7-18 1
LL635 1944-5-1/2 1
LL726 1944-5-1/2 1
DS708 1944-6-27/28 1
DS768 1944-6-6/7 1