Lancaster Mainstream

Lancasters outbound as the daylight fades, the start of a typical night mission in WW2. Contrary to the doctrine adopted by the US 8th Air Force each Lancaster crew operated as an independent unit, navigating to the target by their own devices. The target and the preferred route would be specified as would the earliest and latest times on target - the crew were then expected to get there, and back, with luck, under their own steam.

Composite of airshow photographs and skyscape from my archives.