Image: Avro Lancaster - Waddington - Aircraft of the Royal Air Force in the Second World War 1939-1945 MH6448

Description: Aircraft of the Royal Air Force in the Second World War 1939-1945 Ground staff wave off Avro Lancaster B Mark III, LM583 'PO-O', of No. 467 Squadron RAAF, as it begins its take-off run at Waddington, Lincolnshire, on a daylight sortie to occupied Europe. The painted tail fin indicates a G-H Leader's aircraft, i.e. an aircraft carrying blind-bombing radar, which would lead the rest of the Squadron to the correct aiming point in the event of low cloud cover. Each squadron of No.5 Group, Bomber Command, had its own distinctive G-H tail markings, that of 467 Squadron being a blue cross on a white background. LM583 was subsequently shot down by fighters during a raid on Konigsberg on the night of 29/30 August 1944.
Title: Avro Lancaster - Waddington - Aircraft of the Royal Air Force in the Second World War 1939-1945 MH6448
Credit: This photograph MH 6448 comes from the collections of the Imperial War Museums.
Author: Royal Air Force official photographer
Permission: This work created by the United Kingdom Government is in the public domain. This is because it is one of the following: It is a photograph taken prior to 1 June 1957; or It was published prior to 1973; or It is an artistic work other than a photograph or engraving (e.g. a painting) which was created prior to 1973.HMSO has declared that the expiry of Crown Copyrights applies worldwide (ref: HMSO Email Reply) More information. See also Copyright and Crown copyright artistic works.
Usage Terms: Public domain
License: Public domain
Attribution Required?: No