Avro Lancaster B.Mk III ED888 of 103 Sqn RAF, Mike Squared, RAF Elsham Wolds, England, 1944

Corgi Aviation 1/72 scale AA32624: Avro Lancaster B.Mk III ED888 of 103 Sqn RAF, Mike Squared, RAF Elsham Wolds, England, 1944. Limited Edition of 1,800 models.

Length 11.75 inches Wingspan 17 inches

PLEASE NOTE: There is a minor crease on the box lid as per the photo

The aircrew of Bomber Command made a significant contribution to the war effort in WWII and were to pay a heavy price for their devotion to duty. Arguably the aircraft that best illustrates their contribution and the men who sadly paid the ultimate price is Avro Lancaster ED888 PM-M2 Mike Squared. This magnificent aircraft completed an astonishing 140 bombing missions; the most flown by any Lancaster in WWII. Known as The Mother of Them All, this Lancaster managed to survive the war, shooting down two Luftwaffe fighters in the process. Avro Lancaster ED888 was the most prolific of the ‘Ton-up’ Lancasters and is a fitting way to mark the 75th anniversary of the first flight of Avro’s most famous bomber.

Designed to meet a specification for a new generation of “worldwide use” medium bombers, the Avro Lancaster was first flown on January 8, 1941. The design of the Lancaster evolved from an unsuccessful two-engine aircraft called the Manchester. The heavier Lancaster had four engines and an extensive bomb bay, with later versions capable of carrying 22,000 lb bombs. Used primarily as a night bomber, the Lancaster was a versatile aircraft that became most famous for its role in the 1943 “Dam Buster” raids on Germany’s Ruhr Valley dams. Between 1942 and 1945, Lancasters flew 156,000 sorties, dropping 608,612 tons of bombs on enemy targets.