OUR LADY ORCHID

OUR LADY ORCHID

Victory Aircraft Ltd manufactured Mk X Lancaster Bomber FM136, Serial number 31341, in 1945. Assigned to No. 20th and 30th Maintenance Units in England, it was never issued to an active squadron. Returned to Canada to the depot at Pearce, Alberta, it was eventually converted to Maritime Reconnaissance configuration and taken on strength by No. 404 ‘Buffalo’ (Maritime Patrol) Squadron in Greenwood, Nova Scotia.
FM136 was subsequently transferred to No.407 'Demon' (MP) Squadron in Comox, British Columbia carrying operational markings RX-136 until it was struck off strength in April 1961. The aircraft was returned to Fort McLeod, Alberta to be War Surplus.

FM136 was acquired by the Lancaster Club of Calgary and mounted on a pedestal at the southwest entrance to the Calgary Airport terminal in April 1962. The aircraft was moved to the current museum site exactly thirty years later, in April 1992. The City of Calgary now owns the aircraft. FM136 was restored by the museum and dedicated to Ronnie Jenkins in the summer of 2011.

The Lancaster was a direct development of Avro’s unsuccessful Vulture-powered Manchester twin-engine bomber. The first four-engine Merlin-powered Lancaster flew on January 9, 1941.
The 4-engined Avro Lancaster heavy bomber makes its operational debut laying mines and the first bombing raid on Essen followed one week later. The Lancaster Mk.I, fitted with Merlin XX engines, remained the only version in service throughout 1942 and 1943.
While known to thousands of Canadian airmen who served with Bomber Command, the Lancaster will probably remain best known for its part in the famous Dam busters raid on the evening of May 16/17, 1943 and for its part in sinking the German battleship Tirpitz on November 12, 1944.

During the war Lancaster’s carried out a total of 156,000 missions and dropped 608,612 tons of bombs. This was double what the Halifax, the other major bomber used by the RAF, achieved. The Lancaster also carried the single largest and heaviest bomb used during the Second World War, the 10,000 kg. ‘Grand Slam’, a bomb so large that it hung below the airplane as it would not fit in the bomb bay.

Of the 7,400 Lancaster built, Victory Aircraft Ltd of Malton, Ontario manufactured 430 Lancaster Mk. Xs powered by Packard-built Merlin 28s and 224s. Following the war, the RCAF converted a number for service as maritime reconnaissance and search and rescue aircraft, the last of which was retired in 1965.

FAST FACTS
The Lancaster had a crew of only 7 men including only 1 pilot. The positions were Bomb Aimer who was also the Nose Gunner, Pilot, Flight Engineer, Navigator, Radio Operator, Mid Upper Gunner, Tail Gunner.
The Merlin engines of the Lancaster were British designed and Packard Car Company American and Canadian built.
The average flight lasted 6.5 to 7 hours but it could fly as long as 10-12 hours.
There are only 17 Lancaster’s remaining out of the 7,377 built (430 of which were built in Canada). Only two still fly. (The Mynarski Memorial out of Hamilton, Ontario, and the Battle of Britain Flight RAF in Coningsby, England).
Of the approximately 7400 built, 3,932 where lost in combat; either destroyed or too badly damaged to be able to fly again. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nm6z1a6LG3M&amp=&feature=player_embedded

FM136 – is now on display at the Hanger Museum of Calgary Alberta. Manufactured in 1945 by Victory Aircraft, this aircraft was assigned to No. 20 and 30 Maintenance Units in England in 1945 but was never issued to an active squadron. It returned to Canada in 1947 and was slowly being converted to Maritime Reconnaissance. All on paper taken on strength by No.404 "Buffalo" (MP) Squadron (Greenwood, Nova Scotia) as RX-136. Transferred to No.407 ‘Demon’ (MP) Squadron (Comox, BC). Struck off strength April 1961. Lancaster FM136 in 1962 was put on a pedestal at McCall Field, Calgary’s International AirPort as a Memorial to those who trained under the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan and Canada’s 10,000 who died in Bomber Command. https://youtu.be/sSXiny5mEpg

It was subsequently moved to Hanger Flight Museum of Calgary in 1992 and new shelter was built for it in 2007 where she is today 2017.

OUR AIRCRAFT - LADY ORCHID/JENKINS EXPRESS
Victory Aircraft Ltd manufactured Lancaster Mk X FM 136, Serial Number 31341 in 1945. Assigned to No. 20th and 30th Maintenance Units in England, as a replacement Bomber but she was never issued to an active squadron. Returned to Canada to the depot at Pearce, Alberta, it was eventually converted to Maritime Reconnaissance configuration and taken on strength by No. 404 ‘Buffalo’ (Maritime Patrol) Squadron in Greenwood, Nova Scotia.

FM136 On paper was subsequently transferred to No.407 'Demon' (MP) Squadron in Comox, British Columbia carrying operational markings RX-136 until it was struck off strength in April 1961. The aircraft was returned to Fort McLeod, Alberta to be sold as War Surplus.
FM136 was acquired by the Lancaster Club of Calgary and mounted on a pedestal at the southwest entrance to the Calgary Airport terminal in April 1962. The aircraft was moved to the current museum site exactly thirty years later in April 1992. The City of Calgary owns the aircraft. FM136 was restored by the Hanger Flight Museum and dedicated to Ronnie Jenkins in the summer of 2011. (This is a whole other story)

The Lancaster was a direct descendant of Avro’s unsuccessful Vulture engine powered Manchester Twin-Engine Bomber. The first four-engine Merlin-powered Lancaster flew on January 9, 1941. (my Birthday)

The 4-engined Avro Lancaster heavy bomber makes its operational debut laying mines and the first bombing raid on Essen followed one week later. The Lancaster B1 or Mark 1, fitted with Merlin XX engines, remained the only version in service throughout 1942 and 1943 followed by versions:

B.I Special
Aircraft were adapted to take first the super-heavy "Tallboy” and then "Grand Slam" bombs. Up-rated engines with paddle-bladed propellers gave more power, and the removal of gun turrets reduced weight and gave smoother lines. For the Tallboy, the bomb bay doors were bulged; for the Grand Slam, they were removed completely and the area faired over. For some Tallboy raids, the mid-upper turret was removed. This modification was retained for the Grand Slam aircraft, and in addition the nose turret was later removed. Two airframes (HK541 and SW244) were modified to carry a dorsal "saddle tank" with 1,200 gal (5,455 L) mounted aft of a modified canopy for increasing range. No. 1577 SD Flight tested the aircraft in India and Australia in 1945 for possible use in the Pacific but the tank adversely affected handling characteristics when full and an early type of inflight refueling designed in the late 1930s for commercial flying boats was later used instead.

PR.1
B 1 modified for photographic reconnaissance, operated by RAF No. 82 and No. 541 Squadrons, wartime. All armament and turrets were removed with a reconfigured nose and a camera carried in the bomb bay. The type was also operated by 683(PR) Squadron when it was re-formed in November 1950 to undertake photographic reconnaissance and mapping activities, initially based at RAF Fayid, Egypt, before moving to RAF Kabrit in February 1951, and subsequently Habbaniya in Iraq until the squadron was disbanded on 30 November 1953.

B.I (FE)
In anticipation of the needs of the Tiger Force operations against the Japanese in the far east (FE), a tropicalized variant was based on late production aircraft. The B I (FE) had modified radio, radar, nav-aids, and a 400-gal (1,818 L) tank installed in the bomb bay. Most were painted with white upper-surfaces to reduce internal temperatures in the tropical sun, and black undersides with a low demarcation between the colors, completely omitting any red colors on the national insignia in all cases to avoid confusion with the HINOMARU INSIGNIA of the Japanese.

B.II
Had Bristol Hercules radial engines (Hercules VI or XVI engines) powered variant, of which 300 were produced by Armstrong Whitworth. One difference between the two engine versions was that the VI had manual mixture control, requiring an extra lever on the throttle pedestal. Very early examples were fitted with an FN.64 ventral turret; however, these were quickly removed due to problems with aiming the turret through its periscope (which prevented the gunner from seeing a target he was not already aiming at), and inadequate traverse speed.
Due to the Luftwaffe Schräge Musik attacks, a variety of unofficial field modifications were made, including fitting of 20 mm cannon or a .50-inch caliber machine gun in the open hole where the FN. 64 had been installed, before an official modification (Mod 925) fitted with a .303-inch machine gun was authorized for the same location, though not in all aircraft. These were rarely installed on other variants as the JS2 Radar that was not used on the B II was mounted there. Three types of bulged bomb bay were used on the B II, the prototype having a narrow bulge running from just aft of the cockpit to the end of the bomb bay, while early production examples had a full width bulge that ran the same length and on late production examples the bomb bay doors were prominently bulged throughout their length.

B.III
This variant, which was built concurrently with the B I and was indistinguishable externally from that variant, was fitted with Packard-built Merlin engines. The Packard Marlins used Bendix/Stromberg pressure-injection carburetors requiring the addition of slow-running cut-off switches in the flight deck.

B III (Special)
"Upkeep" Bouncing Bomb used for dam busting bomb mounted under Lancaster B III (Special). The chain was driven by a hydraulic motor and gave the bomb its Backspin.
Known at the time of modification as the "Type 464 Provisioning"] Lancaster, 23 aircraft of this type were built to carry the "Upkeep" Bouncing Bomb for the dam busting raids. The bomb bay doors were removed and Vickers-built struts to carry the bomb were fitted in their place at Woodford Aerodrome near Stockport where the workers worked day and night. A hydraulic motor, driven by the pump previously used for the mid-upper turret was fitted to spin the bomb. Lamps were fitted in the bomb bay and nose for the simple height measurement system which enabled the accurate control of low-flying altitude at night. The mid-upper turret was removed to save weight and the gunner moved to the front turret to relieve the bomb aimer from having to man the front guns so that he could assist with map reading.

ASR.III/ASR.3
B III modified for air sea rescue, with three dipole ventral antennas fitted aft of the radar dome and carrying an air dropped lifeboat in an adapted bomb bay. The armament was often removed and the mid-upper turret faired-over, especially in postwar use. Observation windows were added to both sides of the rear fuselage, a port window just forward of the tail plane and a starboard window into the rear access door. Many ASR 3 conversions were fitted with Lincoln-style rudders.

GR.3/MR.3
B.III modified for maritime reconnaissance.

B.IV
The B.IV featured an increased wingspan and lengthened fuselage and new Boulton Paul F turret (two X 0.5in Browning Machine Guns) with framed "bay window" nose glazing. The prototypes (PW925, PW929 and PW932) were powered by two-stage Merlin 85s inboard and later, Merlin 68s on the outboard mounts. Because of the major redesign, the aircraft was quickly renamed Lincoln B1.

B.V
Increased wingspan and lengthened fuselage, two-stage Merlin 85s. Renamed Lincoln B2.

B.VI
Nine aircraft converted from B. IIIs. Fitted with Merlin 85/87 which had two-stage superchargers, giving much improved high-altitude performance. The B VI could achieve a maximum speed of 313 mph (505 km/h) at 18,200 ft (5,550 m) at 65,000 lb. (29,500 kg) takeoff weight and a service ceiling of 28,500 ft. (8,690 m) at the same weight. Climb to 28,000 ft. (8,500 m) at 65,000 lb (29,500 kg) takeoff weight was accomplished in 44.8 minutes with a maximum climb rate of 1,080 ft/min (5.5 m/s) at 1,000 ft. (305 m).
A Lancaster B VI was dived to a maximum indicated speed of 350 mph (565 km/h), or Mach 0.72 at 25,000 ft (7,620 m) in June 1944. The Merlin 85/87 series engines were fitted with annular cowlings similar to the Avro Lincoln and three bladed paddle-type propellers were fitted. These aircraft were only used by Path Finder units; by No.7, No. 83, No. 405, No. 635 Squadrons RCAF AND RAF. Often used as a "Master Bomber" the B VI's were allocated to RAF Bomber Command apart from two that were retained by Rolls Royce for installation and flight testing. Their dorsal and nose turrets were removed and fared-over. The more powerful engines proved troublesome in service and were disliked by ground maintenance staff for their rough running and propensity to 'surge and hunt', making synchronization impossible. This was caused by variations in the fuel/air mixture and over time would damage the engine. The B VI was withdrawn from operational service in November 1944 and surviving aircraft were used by Rolls Royce, the Royal Aircraft Establishment and the Bomb Ballistics Unit (BBU) for various testing and experimental duties.

B.VII
The B.VII was the final production version of the Lancaster. The Martin 250CE mid-upper turret was moved slightly further forward than on previous Marks and the Nash & Thomson FN-82 tail turret with twin 0.50 in (12.7 mm) Browning machine guns replaced the FN.20 turret with four Browning 303 Mark IIs. The Martin turret carried two 0.5-inch Browning Mark II machine guns which packed much more punch than the .303s of the older turret. However, these Martin turrets arrived too late for inclusion in the first 50 aircraft built by Austin and these were therefore referred to as Mark VII (Interim). Another 180 true Mark VIIs were built at Long bridge. Two sub-variants of the VII existed, the "Far East" (B VII FE) for use in tropical climates and the B VII "Western Union", which went to France.

B.X or Mark X
The B.X was a Canadian-built B.III with Canadian- and US-made instruments and electrics. On later batches the heavier Martin 250CE was substituted for the Nash & Thomson FN-50 mid-upper turret, mounted further forward to maintain center of gravity balance. Canada was a long-term operator of the Lancaster, using modified aircraft after the war for maritime patrol, search and rescue and photo-reconnaissance until 1964. During the Second World War, Canada's Victory Aircraft (what later became Avro Canada) was responsible for the development of the Lancastrian, which was duly designated the XPP for Mark 10 Passenger Plane. Six were built for Trans Canada Airlines or today's Air Canada.
Postwar the RCAF modified the B X (as the Lancaster Mk 10) to fill a variety of roles, with specific designations for each role. These included:

10AR: Area Reconnaissance - three aircraft modified for surveillance operations over the Arctic. Fitted with lengthened nose (40 inches (100 cm) longer) and carrying cameras and ELINT equipment. Remained in service until 1964.

10BR: Bomber Reconnaissance. Minimally modified variant with additional windows for observers in rear fuselage. 13 converted.

10DC: Drone controller with Ryan Fire Bee drones – two modified in 1957 and operational until 1961.

10MR (later 10MP): Maritime Reconnaissance or Maritime Patrol anti-submarine warfare (ASW) aircraft, based on BR with mid-upper turret removed. 70–75 converted. In service from 1950 to 1955.

10N: Navigational trainer. Five were converted.

10O: Orinda jet engine test bed for the engine used in the Avro CF-100 also to be found at Calgary’s Hanger Flight Museum.

10P: Photo reconnaissance mapping duties. 11 converted 1948–1950. Retired 1964.
10S&R: Interim search-and-rescue aircraft, minimally modified 10S. Replaced by disarmed 10BR and 10MRs.

10S: Standard - designation applied to baseline standard, with Merlin 224 engines, Marin mid-upper turret and H2S radar, for aircraft retained postwar for future use.
Sometimes referred to by unofficial designation 10U.

B.XV
Sole Canadian Lancaster B. XV/Lincoln B.XV
As per Lancaster B.IV/Lincoln B.1 but built in Canada and renamed Avro Lincoln XV. One example built before order cancelled when war ended.

While known to thousands of Canadian airmen who served with Bomber Command, the Lancaster will probably remain best known for its part in the famous Dam busters raid on the evening of May 16/17, 1943 and for its part in sinking the German battleship Tirpitz on November 12, 1944.

During the war Lancaster’s carried out a total of 156,000 missions and dropped 608,612 tons of bombs. This was double of what the Halifax, or any other major bomber used by the RAF had achieved. The Lancaster also carried the single largest and heaviest bomb used during the Second World War, the 10,000 kg. ‘Grand Slam’, a bomb so large that it hung below the airplane as it would not fit in the bomb bay.

Of the 430 Lancaster Mk. X’s manufactured at the Victory Aircraft Ltd of Malton, Ontario Canada All were powered by Packard-built Merlin 28s and 224s Engines. Following the war, the RCAF converted a number for service as maritime reconnaissance and search and rescue aircraft, the last of which was retired in 1966.

SOME MORE FAST FACTS
The Lancaster had a crew of only 7 men including only 1 pilot. The positions were Bomb Aimer who was also the Nose Gunner, Pilot, Flight Engineer, Navigator, Radio Operator, Mid Upper Gunner, Tail Gunner. The Merlin engines of the Lancaster were British designed Packard-built Merlin 28s and 224s Engines. The average flight lasted 6.5 to 7 hours but it could fly for 10 - 12 hours.

Most RAF long range bombers had some sort of chemical toilet facility (called an Elsan toilet), along with Pee-Pee tubes but they were highly unpopular, as they often overflowed and were difficult to use, crewmen often preferred to pee in a bottle or poo in a box and then throw it out of the aircraft.

The aircraft with the best toilet facility in WW2 was probably the Short Sunderland flying boat as this had a proper porcelain flushing toilet. A couple of decades later Mercury, Gemini and Apollo Astronauts had space suit diapers for the entire length of their flight.

There are only 17 Lancaster’s remaining out of the 7,377 built (430 of which were built in Canada). Only two still fly. (The Mynarski Memorial out of Hamilton, Ontario, and the Battle of Britain Flight RAF in Coningsby, England). Of the approximately 7,377 built 3,932 where lost in combat; either destroyed or too badly damaged to be able to fly again.
https://www.youtube.com/watch…

FM136 is now on display at the Hanger Flight Museum of Calgary Alberta Canada. Manufactured in 1945 by Victory Aircraft, this aircraft was assigned to No. 20 and 30 Maintenance Units in England in 1945 but was never issued to an active squadron. It returned to Canada in 1947 and was slowly being converted to Maritime Reconnaissance. All on paper taken on strength by No.404 "Buffalo" (MP) Squadron (Greenwood, Nova Scotia) as RX-136. Transferred to No.407 ‘Demon’ (MP) Squadron (Comox, BC). Struck off strength April 1961. Lancaster FM136 in 1962 was put on a pedestal at McCall Field, Calgary’s International Airport as a Memorial to those who trained under the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan and Canada’s 10,000 who died in Bomber Command.
https://youtu.be/sSXiny5mEpg

FM136 was subsequently moved to Hanger Flight Museum of Calgary in 1992 and new shelter was built for it in 2007 where she is re-named with her nose art The Lady Orchid/Jenkins Express today 2017. Lancaster Photos by Richard but some are not:

https://photos.google.com/…/AF1QipO4J2jXBpDI_Puc9nkWzUIxKFm…
Victory Air Craft Milton Ontario Canada: As part of Canada’s 150th celebrations in 2017, the Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum's Lancaster has been transformed into the temporary markings of the RUHR EXPRESS - Canada’s first built Lancaster, KB700. This aircraft was to be flown back to Canada after her 100th Mission but crashed on take off on her last mission.

Victory Aircraft Ltd. in Malton, Ontario Canada: https://youtu.be/OjpZxWLoToU

Victory Aircraft Lancaster Mark X Manufacture: https://photos.app.goo.gl/nWQNPPB3sfu7lmwB3

This initiative was made possible by the Community Fund for Canada’s 150th in collaboration between the Hamilton Community Foundation, the Government of Canada, and extraordinary leaders from coast to coast to coast. This short video has been produced by the same team that brought you;
"Reunion of Giants" https://youtu.be/5Ol2rem6d3g

Calgary's Lady Orchid Lancaster Mk X., FM136, Serial 31341, https://goo.gl/photos/qKJUtTAgECvZkdtq7

Photos by Richard Abbenbroek
Again, the Lady Orchid resides in The Hangar Flight Museum www.thehangarmuseum.ca

  This was posted by Richard Abbenbroek... http://bayo-hunter.blogspot.ca/