Historic:

Lancaster Mk.I R5868 was built by Metropolitan-Vickers in Manchester and delivered to 83 Squadron, RAF Scampton, 29 June 1942 as OL-Q "Queen." It transferred to the Australian 467 Squadron September 1943 as PO-S "Sugar." Completed 137 combat sorties and then participated in food supply and POW repatriation (Operation Exodus). Marked as "non-effective" but kept in storage as being of particular note due to the number of missions completed. Struck off 16 March 1956 and transferred to Air Historical Branch. Sent to RAF Fulbeck in 1958 for storage. In April 1959 moved to RAF Scampton for display. Painted in 83 Squadron markings in 1960. Remained Gate Guardian at Scampton until allotted to RAF Museum in August 1970. Following restoration moved to Hendon in March 1972 and repainted with 467 markings. Moved to new Bomber Command Museum hall at Hendon in August 1982. 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.

Info: Flying Aces Avro Lancaster Corgi Showcase