WIAS - Warwickshire Industrial Archaeology Society

Avro Lancaster Overhaul at Coventry 2006/7

The Battle of Britain Memorial Flight Lancaster B1, PA474 , one of the two remaining airworthy Lancasters in the world, recently went into the Air Atlantique workshops at Coventry Airport for a full overhaul. It flew into Coventry in October 2006 and left in April 2007. The workmanship was of the highest quality and is a tribute to the staff at Coventry and the RAF engineers who undertook a complete strip of the airframe. The main spar had already reen replaced in 1995/96 extending the life of the aircraft for the forseeable future. The engines were sent to a specialist for overhaul. The first photograph is of the aircraft landing at Coventry followed by a series of pictures taken 5 days before its departure.

PA474 is one of only two Lancasters remaining in airworthy condition out of the 7377 that were built – the other being in Canada. She was built in Chester in mid-1945 and was earmarked for the ‘Tiger Force’ in the Far East. However, the war with Japan ended before she could take part in any hostilities. She was therefore assigned to Photographic Reconnaissance duties with 82 Squadron in East and South Africa.

After major servicing at Air Atlantique in Coventry during the winter of 2006/07, PA474 wears the markings of EE139, the ’Phantom of the Ruhr’, a ton-up Lancaster that flew her first 30 ops on No 100 Squadron based at Waltham before completing a further 91 ops on No 550 Squadron at North Killingholme. She sports the letters HR-W of ‘The Ton’ on her port side and BQ-B of 550 on her starboard, effectively commemorating the crews of both Squadrons.

For a complete history of PA474 and the the other aircraft of the Battle of Britain Memorial flight visit their excellent website.