Second World War RAF Lancaster parts

[FC2024]

Hello everyone - I wonder if you can help. I'm working with a new, soon-to-open museum at former RAF Witchford in Ely, Cambs, UK. The museum recently had a quantity of 1990s crash dig wreckage donated and I'm hoping you might be able to help us better understand some of the parts? I should add that we've already found a British 2in mortar tail mixed in with the wreckage so I don't think it could be described as 'uncontaminated'! The aircraft involved was 115 Squadron Lancaster LL667, shot down by an intruder night fighter whilst coming in to land back at Witchford, April 1944. Any information about these items will be gratefully received!

All the best

 

[Wurger]

Hello,

The part with the Air Ministry data plate seems to be a piece of the oil and water trap Type 218F, the A.M Ref. No. 37J/30 used with most of the Merlin powered aircraft including the Spitfire and Hurricane.

 

[FC2024]

Hello,

The part with the Air Ministry data plate seems to be a piece of the oil and water trap Type 218F, the A.M Ref. No. 37J/30 used with most of the Merlin powered aircraft including the Spitfire and Hurricane.

Hi and thank you - this was in fact a Hercules-powered Lanc so that would still apply?

 

[Wurger]

Hi and thank you - this was in fact a Hercules-powered Lanc so that would still apply?

That's possible. I have had a look at a couple of the Lanc systems and found that the oil and water traps were also used for the pneumatic systems. In other words everywhere where the separation between the compressor and compressed air tank was needed,. For instance ... the landing gear. In your first pic I can seen a bottle painted black. Am I right? Not sure about its size but it looks like an oxygene tank. It is possible the both parts were the pieces of the same system.

 

[Crimea_River]

There were 4 stores item 37J/30 on the Lanc. These were were oil/water separators, one mounted on each firewall. I would assume that this was a common item, regardless of Merlin or Hercules power plants but I don't know for sure. The part in question is item 10 in the below diagram and callout: