I have found evidence for a revision to "All-Up-Weight" for specific Lancasters. A memo 19 Jan 1945, (found in AIR 8/333 "Bomber Command Operations, Monthly report to Prime Minister") from A/Cdre Sidney Bufton to Secretary of State for Air [Archibald Sinclair] to be in reply to "Your minute 1 January 1945" that alludes to "…overall results from recent operations suggests Halifax compares well with Lancaster." The author of this note provides a considerable detail and analysis as to why this conclusion is not correct. The author goes on to detail the likely future comparables between the Halifax VI and the Lancaster III/X with the Merlin 224 engines and the likely-to-be-approved increase in the all-up weight of the Lancaster from 65,000 to 68,000 lbs.
I found a Form "B" [AIR 14/3133] for 5-Group, for the raid to Bohlen, March 5/6, 1945 which specifies a different "All Up Weight" for 18 lb boost "Paddle Blade" A/C as 67,000 lbs. All Other aircraft 65,500. This is the first record I have seen for a higher All-up Weight for a non-617 or 9 Squadron a/c (Squadrons that carried "Special Stores"). Note that it doesn't specify whether this would be for RR Merlin or a Packard Merlin 224. Both types could have been Paddle Blade A/C. Note that they WOULD NOT have put Paddle Blade Props on an engine with lower power. The engine would have been "Over Propped" and could have blown up. It's my opinion that the Lancaster X's with Serial numbers KB.774 and above with Paddle Blade A/C would have fit this criteria, however, at no time, did 419 Squadron ORB's record a higher bomb load for those aircraft, right through to the end of hostilities.
But the irrefutable prove that the "All-Up-Weight" exceeded the 65,000 lbs for Mainforce Lancasters (i.e. squadrons other than 617 and 9 Squadrons that had a specified "All-Up-Weight" of 72,000 lbs) can be found in this document where the "All-Up-Weight" is identified as 66,529 on a raid to Leipzig, April 10/4/45, 44 Squadron Rhodesia.
https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/collections/document/7329
Note that I have not found any other documentation, ORB or otherwise, that identifies the actual All-Up Weight for operations. This does not mean that the actual 14,000 lb limit imposed by limitations of the bomb bay could be exceeded. However, it does provide for a larger load to targets with a deeper penetration.
Jim
I found a Form "B" [AIR 14/3133] for 5-Group, for the raid to Bohlen, March 5/6, 1945 which specifies a different "All Up Weight" for 18 lb boost "Paddle Blade" A/C as 67,000 lbs. All Other aircraft 65,500. This is the first record I have seen for a higher All-up Weight for a non-617 or 9 Squadron a/c (Squadrons that carried "Special Stores"). Note that it doesn't specify whether this would be for RR Merlin or a Packard Merlin 224. Both types could have been Paddle Blade A/C. Note that they WOULD NOT have put Paddle Blade Props on an engine with lower power. The engine would have been "Over Propped" and could have blown up. It's my opinion that the Lancaster X's with Serial numbers KB.774 and above with Paddle Blade A/C would have fit this criteria, however, at no time, did 419 Squadron ORB's record a higher bomb load for those aircraft, right through to the end of hostilities.
But the irrefutable prove that the "All-Up-Weight" exceeded the 65,000 lbs for Mainforce Lancasters (i.e. squadrons other than 617 and 9 Squadrons that had a specified "All-Up-Weight" of 72,000 lbs) can be found in this document where the "All-Up-Weight" is identified as 66,529 on a raid to Leipzig, April 10/4/45, 44 Squadron Rhodesia.
https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/collections/document/7329
Note that I have not found any other documentation, ORB or otherwise, that identifies the actual All-Up Weight for operations. This does not mean that the actual 14,000 lb limit imposed by limitations of the bomb bay could be exceeded. However, it does provide for a larger load to targets with a deeper penetration.
Jim
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