Avro 694 Lincoln

1944

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Avro 694 Lincoln

The last piston-engined bomber to serve with the RAF, the Lincoln conformed to Specification B.14/43 and was virtually a scaled-up version of the Lancaster. Indeed, the first version of the Lincoln was originally known as the Lancaster Mk IV. The first prototype flew on 9 June 1944.

Normally powered by four Rolls-Royce Merlin 85 engines with annular radiators, the Lincoln was armed with twin 12.7mm Browning machine-guns in a Boulton-Paul Type F nose turret; two 20mm Hispano Mk 4 or Mk 5 cannon in a Bristol B-17 Mk II dorsal turret; twin 12.7mm machine-guns in a Boulton Paul Type D rear turret and up to 6,350kg of bombs.

Intended for use in the Pacific theatre of war, the Lincoln appeared just too late to go into operational service, but instead became the RAF's standard post-war heavy bomber. Avro built 168 production aircraft, supplemented by 79 from Metropolitan-Vickers and 281 from Armstrong Whitworth. Six were also built in Canada and 54 with nose extensions in Australia by the Government Aircraft Factory at Fishermen's Bend, NSW. Thirty Lincolns were also diverted to the Argentine Air Force. Several versions of the bomber were produced during the production runs: Lincoln B.I with Merlin 85 engines; B.2 with Merlin 68A engines; Lincoln Mk 3 intended to be the ASR version but became the Shackleton; Lincoln B.4 with Merlin 85; Lincoln B.15 built in Canada; and Lincoln B.30 Australian version with Merlin 85 or 102 engines.

First issued to the RAF in September 1945, the bomber eventually equipped 20 squadrons. No 97 Squadron and others were detached to Singapore in 1950 for anti-terrorist raids and to Kenya in 1954. One was converted for the bulk uplift of fuel oil and made 45 civil flights during the Berlin Airlift.

Avro 694 Lincoln

Specification 
 MODEL"Lincoln"
 CREW7
 ENGINE4 x Rolls-Royce "Merlin 85", 1305kW
 WEIGHTS
  Take-off weight34020 kg75002 lb
  Empty weight19690 kg43409 lb
 DIMENSIONS
  Wingspan36.58 m120 ft 0 in
  Length23.86 m78 ft 3 in
  Height5.27 m17 ft 3 in
  Wing area132.01 m21420.94 sq ft
 PERFORMANCE
  Max. speed475 km/h295 mph
  Cruise speed345 km/h214 mph
  Range w/max payload2366 km1470 miles
 ARMAMENT6 x 12.7mm machine-guns, 6350kg of bombs

3-View 
Avro 694 LincolnA three-view drawing (690 x 688)

Comments1-20 21-40
Terry Busby, e-mail, 11.09.2012 21:33

I was National Service posted to RAF Scampton in 1951
and served on the Lincolns as an Instrument Tech. until
they left as a squadron in 1952 to go to RAF Lindholme.
I was part of the skeleton ground crew that went ahead
of our main squadron To help set up the cange over .They
were happy days and days I never forget .

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john blackmore, e-mail, 03.04.2012 14:06

At age 14 I was a member of the Woodford Essex ATC and our 1950 Summer Camp was held at RAF Wyton, Huntingdon. We joined a Lincoln a /c for a night flight on a bomb exercise to Germany and back. I was seated in the front turret,very cold . . . will never forget returning to RAF Wyton guided by flares on the runway. Later I joined the RAF and spent some time at Martlesham Heath, Suffolk where they were experimenting with jet /piston engined Lincolns.

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Eddie Frost, e-mail, 28.09.2011 11:49

I was stationed at R.A.F.Deden in 1951 /2 national service , we had 2 Lincolns and i think 3 Ansons 3 Oxgords 2 tiger moths , i used fly on training flights as many times as i could in the lincolns in the main, but also many flights in Ansons and Oxfords, happy days,

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john asmore, e-mail, 22.08.2011 17:44

I was a junior tech electrical fitter at RAF Leconfield in the early 1950s. We had a squadron of Lincoln bombers that were used to train air gunners. I remember an incident during the Berlin airlift when one of our aircraft was shot down by the Russians for supposedly straying outside the air corridor.

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Laurie 'Irish' Shaw, e-mail, 14.06.2011 12:32

My late brother, Jim Shaw work on Lincolns as an Airframe Fitter when he was a National Service stationed at Amberley Queensland in 1954. I was in the RAN from 1954 until 1960 and served on the aircraft carrier Sydney during the Malayan Emergency Onboard the Australian sloop Warrego in 1960 while searching for a downed Fokker Friendship off Mackay Queensland I recall an RAAF Lincoln, flying at zero feet, her navigator flashing us with his Aldis drawing our attention to an oil slick from the stricken aircraft. I am the Secretary of the NSW /ACT Division of the Far East Strategic Reserve [NAVY] Association and have been lobbying all and sundry trying to get the Australian Government to recognise our war service by awarding us veterans a Malaya Campaign Medal, as was the case with veterans of the Korean and Vietnam wars. So fsr without success. Great website. Regards. Irish Shaw, ex-RAN.

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Colin H Morgan, e-mail, 05.05.2011 12:53

I was posted to RAF Manby in 1951 as a LAC from Yatesbury Boys training.We had Lincolns and a modified Lincoln called a Lincolnian.All the gun turrets had been removed and the airframe covered.Manby was a Navigation School then Headquarters in Tedder Block. I only remember the Lincolnian flying once and then it was transfered to the far side of the airfield and parked there. I heard that later it was inspected and found to have rat and mouse damage to cables and fittings. Being an Ex-Boy Entrant I was at first given the new boy job of painting all the Lincoln aerials. While still at Manby I went on a detachment to Norway and flew in the Lincoln aircraft over the North Pole. The exercise was to Map the icecap using H2S radar.Very exiting for a lad of seventeen but I remember how very cold it was at the tail end.I had the job of heating tins of soup in a small white Box at the rear but it was so cold that it took ages to heat just one tin that the crew didn't think much of the cook. Wonderful memories of a good old kite.

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colin billingham, e-mail, 11.02.2011 18:57

I was a jnr nco at wickenby and flew in one lincoln on a practice bombing run over the sea and over the cathedral on the way back. It was called the air patronisation scheme. other aircraft included a valetta and anson.
I will never forget the 4 hour bomber flight

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rusty, e-mail, 05.01.2011 08:36

There is a mistake in the text saying gaf fisherman's bend is in nsw. It is in melbourne vic.
rusty.

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Bryen Abrahams, e-mail, 30.11.2010 04:08

I flew Lincolns..R A A F 1952 /1958 in Malaya & then maritime long nose Mk.31 Ended rain making experiment...not successful.Every-one of my old crew who are still around now suffer varying degrees of deafness!

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Peter Watson, e-mail, 03.10.2010 13:40

I was posted to RAF Shawbury in1951 and worked on Lincoln`s as an engine mechanic in the maintenance hanger.Have since lost touch with all my mates after moving to Australia.

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fede, e-mail, 01.09.2009 01:31

It's on the Fuerza Aérea Argentina's museum.
Very nice!

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Ken Clark, e-mail, 01.08.2009 08:37

My connection is with Lincoln Bomber RA 692. It crashed at Grangefarm, Welton just North East of RAF Scampton on 14 July 1951. My Dad was a gunner onboard. There was a crew of seven comprising five NCOs and two Officers, the pilots. All seven were killed, presumably instantly, according to the Coronner's Report. I was born five months after the crash in November 1951 so never knew dad but feel as though I do from what Mum has told me over the years. The crew members were;
Sgt P E Clark of Motherwell Scotland (my dad)
Flt Lt C W Peters of Edgeware Middlesex
F O F Cousins of Wakefield Yorks
Sgt K Ireson of Swansea
Sgt E Newman of Middlesborough
Sgt A J Fitzgerald of Ontario Canada
Cadet Engineer N Moss of Ealing London
Dad is buried in the Scampton Church Cemetery just south west of RAF Scampton.
I would love to touch base with any relatives of the other crew members. Any ideas?
Regards,
Ken Clark (Perth Western Australia)

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Norman Lyons, e-mail, 09.09.2008 19:44

I was a National Service Sergeant Flight Engineer based at Scampton and Hemswell in 1952 /3. On Sept 15th 1952 I flew with Sgt Kmiecik on The Battle of Britain Flypast over London. On July 1953 we flew in formation for The Queens review of the RAF at Odiham, both sortees was during my stay with 83 squadron.

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Pete Richmond, e-mail, 18.02.2008 15:47

I was nearly hit by one of these aircraft in 1951 at Scampton. I was playing in our MQ's garden when the aircraft crashed on the green behind the house. I've since learned that the aircraft was RF567 'SN-L' and was on a circuits and bumps training flight when the port outer engine failed. The pilot touched down with the engine feathered, bounced and attempted an overshoot but with insufficient airspeed it swung off runway 23, the port wing hit a hangar and the aircraft crashed onto the green. It demolished the rifle range and bounced over two roads before bursting into flames. The two Gunners were killed in the crash, the Pilot, Signaller and Engineer were injured. The aircraft Captains name was Sgt. G B Watson, this is the only name I know, so if anyone reading this can update me with any further information I'd be grateful.

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ken rimell, e-mail, 20.07.2007 22:14

I flew in several Lincolns while based at RAF Upwood in 1960? WD128 hit a lorry on take off and did a belly flop after flying for several hours to burn off fuel.It landed on the grass alongside 06.About a year later the remaining aircraft, then used for a four engine conversion and OTU flew off in formation leaving one behind that had a twisted u /c due to a heavy landing.

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michael sumpter, e-mail, 31.12.2006 22:25

My father Frank Sumpter was inthe RAF...Serving i think 1944 to 1952.I have a photography of a Lincoln Bomber flying over the Lincoln Catheral and my dad is on board...mid upper gunner.Iam afraid iam not sure of the year.The number of the Lincoln is....VN--C....What a sight!!!!!

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1-20 21-40

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