Best Lancaster books?

[Michael51]

Having read through the very interesting "Obscure Lancaster Question " thread, I wonder if any publication exists that gives detailed coverage of the technical development of the Lancaster.

 

Such works exist for the Halifax, like Victor Bingham's Halifax: Second to None. Yet I am unable to find a similar work on the Lancaster.

 

Any advice from forum members would be most appreciated.

 

Merry Christmas from a hot and sunny 36 celsius Melbourne.

 

Michael

[Jure Miljevic]

Hello Michael

I walked across a nearby pond today, but could just as safely drive in a car on the top of the ice. Here we have had -10°C for the fortnight or so ... no snow though -sigh-. About the Lancaster books: I doubt a single one could cover complete technical development of an airplane like Lancaster. Still, I find Peter Jacobs's book The Lancaster story quite informative. Cheers and merry Christmas

Jure

[Rabbit Leader]

Probably not the best, however I've always found the Osprey 'Combat Aircraft' books a decent read and there's always plenty of modelling inspiration included as well. 

 

Lancaster Squadrons of WW2 came out in two volumes and IMO are as good as any books out there to get some development as well as operational information on the good old Lanc. 

 

I also fancy the Haynes restoration guides. I don't have the Lanc but the Mossie book is quite handy as well. 

 

Im sure others here will provide better alternatives but these options are at least readily available. 

 

Cheers... Dave 

[KevinK]

Bruce Robertson's "Lancaster - The Story of a Famous Bomber", one of the Harleyford books from the mid-60s has always been my favourite.

[Troy Smith]

you may wish to  clarify 

Quote

 detailed coverage of the technical development of the Lancaster.

Also, the Halifax has quite a lot of changes and  developments,as detailed in Bingham's book,  while compared the Lancaster in it's main role as a specialised bomb carrier (as Bingham goes on about)  has essentially some tweaks, but not much development

 

Have a look at the wiki  page

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Avro_Lancaster

 

a quick look and nothing jumps out as wrong,  it mentions most of the main changes in the Lancaster,  and it does have a bibliography, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Avro_Lancaster#Bibliography

which would be worth running through Amazon to get an idea of what each 'does',  if you don't actually get  chapter and verse here in the meantime of course!  

(also nothing gets keyboards going here as fast  posting cobblers )  

 

I don't know if  the "At War" series are as cheap in Australia as they are in the UK and  USA, where the can be go for 1p and  post often,   but  there are 4 volumes, and they contain a lot of information in the text, plus LOTS of  great photos.

 

sorry, not the most informative of replies, but may give a few leads.

 

HTH

T

[Michael51]

Thanks for the very helpful replies.

 

I have picked up the Jacobs book on abe and will investigate the Robertson work as well.

 

Yes, I do have all the Garbett / Goulding works. They make fine reading and I agree, they contain some excellent photographs,

 

Michael

[dogsbody]

The Avro Lancaster by Francis K. Mason is a good read, too.

 

Right now, it's -21C here. A couple weeks ago, it was -37C one morning.

 

 

Chris

[Work In Progress]

While I can't speak directly of the Haynes Lancaster book I have very much enjoyed the Merlin and Lysander volumes so I'd say it's worth a try.

[Graham Boak]

Sorry, I'm cut off from my books, but didn't Harry Holmes produce a book called Lancaster The Definitive Record, and within the limits of a single volume, didn't it live up to its title?

[tempestfan]

Yes, H. Holmes did, I have it, but having become a bit of a follower of Frank Mason, I am definitely on the look for his book, which is a close to 500 pages tome. I'm a bit reluctant to shell out around 50 Euros, but probably I'll do. As a Hawker man, I think he'll have had access to anything the HS archive could provide,  and likely a bit more. 

[Michael51]

7 hours ago, Graham Boak said:

Sorry, I'm cut off from my books, but didn't Harry Holmes produce a book called Lancaster The Definitive Record, and within the limits of a single volume, didn't it live up to its title?

Yes, a very detailed record of Lancaster serials, losses and squadrons, often conveniently cross-tabbed, but by no means a treatise on technical development

Michael

[Mancunian airman]

I think I must have virtually every book concerning the Lancaster but none actually go into details regarding technical development.

 

Do you or have you seen the book 'The Lancaster Manual' published by RAF Museum (Hendon) here in London ?

Its a copy of the original manual issues during the war and give details of the structural airframe etc plus an extensive wiring diagram and lots more such as fuel pipe/tank installation, radio installation, dinghy, bomb loading  etc etc 

[Michael51]

Thanks for your post.

 

It seems as if the technical development side is missing from the shelf.  I have the reprint of the pilot's manual, which is about as far as my brain can travel on these things.

 

The likes of a Victor Bingham, K A Merrick or Brian Rapier have provided us with Halifax versions of what I sought, but alas, nothing similar for the Lancaster.

 

Regards,

 

Michael