Lancasters with the Rose rear turret

[HP52]

Lancaster I and III production July 1944 to end of production was 2,777, with a rate of 200 and 300 per month July 1944 to March 1945 (average 250 per month), versus 321 Rose turrets made and if the turrets were restricted to 1 Group then it was probably a post manufacture fitting, either at a maintenance unit or at the squadron that received it. Presumably the change had a modification number. 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. After that comes the 1 Group squadron histories. The 180 mark VII, fitted with the FN.82 rear turret, were built between April and December 1945.

According to the Ministry of Aircraft Production aircraft turrets were built by Parnell Aircraft 1939 to end 1945, Brockhouse 1939 to end 1945, Lucas Birmingham Q4/39 to end 1945, Lucas Cwmbran Q3/41 to end 1945, Diamler Q2/41 to end 1945, Rose Brothers Q3/44 to end 1945, Boulton Paul Q4/44 to end 1945 and Arrow Aircraft Q2 and Q3/44.

Rear Turrets for Lancasters. Program is planned production for the month. "in FN.120" means the report does not split the program between the 120 and 121. The FN.120 and 121 were in production for several aircraft types each of whom have separate entries in the production reports.

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​

July 1944 FN.50 and FN.150 mid upper turrets in production. FN.120 and 121 also for Lancaster IV and V = Lincoln
September 1944, FN.120 and 121 also for Lincoln (no more Lancaster IV and V)
October 1944, FN.121 only also for Lincoln
December 1944 FN.50 plus FN.150 mark I and IV mid upper turrets in production.
March 1945 FN.121 production for Lancaster only, FN.150 mid upper turret production no mark numbers given.
March 1945, production reported of 250 CE 23A mid upper turrets for Lancasters.
May 1945, end FN.150 mid upper turrets
July 1945, end FN.50 mid upper turrets
October 1945, R.2 Mark I turret now for Lincoln
November 1945, end of Rose Turret production.

I can say that the French Aero Navale Lancs had Rose Turrets - Just Jane at east Kirkby is one and the Motat Museum has another. Gee Lancs look big but inside they seem tiny, just like the Shackleton

 

[EwenS]

I can say that the French Aero Navale Lancs had Rose Turrets - Just Jane at east Kirkby is one and the Motat Museum has another. Gee Lancs look big but inside they seem tiny, just like the Shackleton

They were fitted with Fraser Nash FN82 tail turrets fitted with 2x0.5" MG, not Rose turrets.

The Rose turret was one of 3 developed during WW2 for the RAF with that armament.

Rose turret

FN82 turret ( this one with AGLT)

This is NX611 in her French guise. Note the turret framing.

It is an FN82 that the Lincolnshire Aviation Heritage Centre are rebuilding for this aircraft (scroll down the following page for photos)

Lancaster NX611 ‘Just Jane’ – Restoration Update 185

As most of our readers will know, Avro Lancaster B.VII NX611 Just Jane is under restoration to airworthy condition with the Lincoln Aviation Heritage Center at former RAF East Kirkby in Lincolnshire, England. The group continues to made magnificent progress, and we thought that our readers might...

warbirdsnews.com

Boulton Paul also developed their Type D tail turret with 2x0.5" that was fitted to the Avro Lincoln.

 

[Greyman]

Some Lancaster II definitely had the ventral turret installed. The list below shows the Mk II aircraft which expressly carried a mid-under gunner in the crew list, according to 408 Squadron ORBs. It is ordered by the number of ops that aircraft flew with an under-gunner, and the date on which it first occurred.

Sorry, way late to the party here.

This wouldn't be for a FN 64 turret, this would be for the manually-aimed .5-inch position.