Avro Lancaster B.III
Avro · United Kingdom · first flew 1942 · bomber
The Lancaster B.III was the numerically dominant production variant, differing from the B.I solely in its Packard-licence Merlin engines, which eased supply-chain pressure on Rolls-Royce output.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Mid-mounted, tapered |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 4 × piston, wing-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 21.2 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | Twin fin |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Packard-built Merlin 28/38 engines give nacelles a slightly squarer, flat-sided appearance versus the Rolls-Royce items on the B.I
- No external airframe difference visible at normal viewing distances — mark identification requires close inspection of engine data plates or cowling riveting pattern
- Operationally interchangeable with B.I; mixed formations of both marks were the norm for Bomber Command squadrons
Visually inseparable from the B.I in photographs or at distance; the only reliable external clue is the nacelle profile around the exhaust stacks, where Packard Merlins show slightly different casting lines.
Specifications
- The Avro Lancaster B.III has a length of 21.2 m (70 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 31.1 m (102 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 462 km/h (287 mph).
- Typical crew: 7.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
Entering service in 1942, the B.III was produced in greater numbers than any other Lancaster mark. The use of Packard Merlins allowed British production capacity to be directed toward Spitfires and other fighters while still sustaining the heavy-bomber programme.
Variants
The B.III(Special) received the same Grand Slam bomb modifications as the B.I(Special); 617 Squadron operated both marks on precision-bombing missions.
Where you'll see it
Several B.IIIs survive in museums; the Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum's FM213 is one of only two airworthy Lancasters worldwide and represents the broadly similar Canadian-built B.X.
Related aircraft
- Avro York
- Avro Lancaster
- Avro Lancaster B.I
- Avro Lincoln
- Aichi B7A Ryusei
- B-29 Superfortress
- Boeing B-17F Flying Fortress
- Boeing XAT-15
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