Moving a big War War II aircraft without damaging it is no simple task and that work continues as the Avro
Lancaster bomber is relocated from the National Air Force Museum of Canada (NAFMC) in Quinte West to a temporary home at Base31 near Picton.
The aircraft will continue to be restored at Base31 and will be on public display this summer. It’s expected to remain in The County for four or five years to allow expansion work at the NAFMC.
County Mayor Steve Ferguson says he’s both proud and excited to have played a role in having the Lancaster moved to Base31.
“It is appropriate and meaningful to have this artefact from World War II on display at Base31, a site that itself is being restored, but that played a role training the young men who eventually flew Lancasters and other aircraft overseas.”
(Photo: Facebook/Steve Ferguson)
Engine. (Photo: Facebook/Steve Ferguson)
Propellers. (Photo: Facebook/Steve Ferguson)
A long, unobstructed bomb bay meant that the Lancaster could take the largest bombs used by the RAF, including the 4,000 lb, 8,000 lb and 12,000 lb blockbusters, loads often supplemented with smaller bombs or incendiaries. The “Lanc” as it was known colloquially, became one of the most heavily used of the Second World War night bombers, delivering 608,612 long tons of bombs in 156,000 sorties.
