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The Australian Aircraft Restoration Group is pleased of announce the
arrival and pending donation of major components of an Avro Lincoln Bomber,
towards future restoration of a complete aircraft for static display at
the Australian National Aviation Museum at Moorabbin.
Built in Australia by the Government Aircraft Factories, at Fisherman’s Bend, Port
Melbourne, there is currently no complete example of a Lincoln
on display anywhere in Australia.
In 1943 with the successful local production of
Wirraway, Wackett and Tigermoth Trainers, as well as Beaufort, Beaufighter
and Mosquito manufacturing well underway, the Australian Government sent a
overseas mission to explore further types for local manufacture. That
mission, with significant involvement by Sir Laurence Wackett, selected
the Mustang as the next locally manufactured fighter and recommended the
Lancaster for local manufacture if a heavy bomber was required, and later
in May 1943 Lancaster III ED930 was sent out to Australia to act as the
pattern aircraft, and in November 1943 the War Cabinet approved the
manufacture of 50 Lancasters by the Beaufort Division of the Department of
Aircraft Production (DAP).
At this same time development of the Lancaster design by Avro had lead to
an intended "much improved" mark IV being developed, incorporating a new
wing of greater span, a lengthened fuselage, greater fuel capacity and
larger/more powerful merlin engines with four bladed propellers. The these
changes along with the installation of a remote nose turret, angular bomb
aimers panel transformed the design sufficiently from the Lancaster to
result in a new name and the Avro type 694 Lincoln was created.
With the war turning in the allies favour in Europe, the RAF turned its
attention to entering the Pacific War and intended to create a dedicated
"Tiger Force" consisting of the new Avro Lincoln Bomber, with
its improved range and performance allowing the RAF to match the USAF's
deployment of their new B-29 Bomber.
With this in mind Australia in February 1944 shifted its production
intentions to the new Avro Design with the Department of Aircraft
Production intended to produce its Lincolns as mark XXX, later to become
mark 30 when arabic replaced roman numerals in British and Australian
designations. The Mark 30 Lincoln was based on the Avro B2 Lincoln but
with differing Merlin engines.
In July 1945 the Lincoln programme was amended to include 61 Lincoln
Bombers and 12 Avro Tudor airliners, (a pressurised airliner which shared
the wing and engine design of the Lincoln) however despite creating a
wooden mockup of the Tudor in 1948 the Tudor was dropped from Australian
production plans and instead the order amended to 73 Lincoln Bombers.
The first 5 aircraft were assembled from imported Avro
built B2 parts. The
remainder were assembled from parts locally constructed
at the DAP, now named Government Aircraft Factory (GAF)
plant at Fishermens Bend Melbourne from extensive sub-contracting as had
been the case for the DAP Beaufort and Beaufighters.
The first Australian built GAF Mark 30 Lincoln flew on 12 March 1946 and
the remainder were delivered between January 1947 and September 1953, with
the last 12 aircraft being delivered as mark 31 Lincolns modified to
perform maritime reconnaissance by fitting a 6 &1/2 foot extension to
the nose to accomodate a tactical navigator and three sonabuoy operators,
and a further 7 existing mark 30 Lincolns were returned to the factory for
similar modifications.
The Mark 30 Lincoln served as the RAAF's primary bomber with 1, 2
and 6 Squadrons forming 82 Wing in February 1948 equipped with Lincolns,
replacing the wartime 4 engined Heavy Bomber, the Liberator.
Number 1 Squadron was deployed to Singapore with RAF Lincolns in the
Malayan Emergency and spent 8 years undertaking nearly 4000 sorties
against communist terrorists.
Number 2 and 6 Squadrons deployed their Lincolns in various duties
including "Cloud Chasing" and testing support of the Maralinga
Atom Bomb tests, before relinquishing their Lincolns for Australian made
GAF Canberra Jet Bombers in December 1953, while 1 Squadron did not return
to Australia and transfer to Canberra's until July 1958.
The Mark 31 "Long Nose" Lincoln came into service in March 1955
with 10 and 11 Squadrons being so equipped, these aircraft were disposed
of in 1961/1962 with the introduction of the Lockheed Neptune.
Unfortunately no example of the RAAF's last 4 engined Heavy Bomber,
the largest aircraft ever manufactured in Australia, was retained for
preservation or future display.
The Museum has
been offered donation of the dis-assembled remains of a former British built Avro B2
Lincoln former RAF RF342 to be used as the
basis of restoration and display as an RAAF GAF Lincoln Bomber and is
seeking cash donations or parts to assist in the eventual restoration and
display of the aircraft, to become one of four remaining
world wide, and the only one in Australia, along side the other rare and restored
Australian Made aircraft already in the museum’s collection.
Background to this project is available at:
http://aarg.com.au/avro_group
Further details on the history of Lincoln RF342 are at http://groups.msn.com/AvroBomberPreservationAssociation/_whatsnew.msnw
Lincoln Wing Outer Panel arriving in March 2007
Lincoln Wing Centre-Section arriving in April 2007
Lincoln Centre-Rear fuselage arriving in June 2007
Lincoln wing trailing edge arriving in June 2007
Inside Centre-Rear
fuselage - looking aft
Inside Centre-Rear fuselage - looking forward
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